http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/09062008/13/kubica-welcome-alonso-bmw-teammate.html Kubica would welcome Alonso as BMW teammate Mon 09 Jun, 04:57 PM New Grand Prix winner and championship leader Robert Kubica said he would enjoy having double World Champion Fernando Alonso as his BMW Sauber teammate. The 23-year-old Pole is close friends with Spaniard Alonso, and the pair often spend the evenings during race weekends out to dinner or playing cards. Kubica is likely to remain at the Hinwil-based team with a higher retainer next year, but his current teammate Nick Heidfeld - albeit with a valid 2009 contract - has struggled notably this season. Asked by the Spanish newspaper El Pais if he would welcome Alonso to BMW, Kubica replied: "I would have no problem with that. I get along with him very well." "I do not know what the future holds, but if we do both drive for BMW, we would have a lot of fun," he said. "We appreciate each other as drivers but also as people. You know with him that when he says something, it is what he really thinks," Kubica added. "He is not someone who thinks too much about his image, or says something for marketing or just to look good." Kubica said after winning on Sunday that he hoped the BMW team will now throw its weight behind him to retain the lead in the drivers' championship. But to El Pais, he played down the notion that he is now the de facto "team leader." "I don't think that is what I need to be," Kubica said. "All that matters is that I do my job well and try to improve every day." "In the end, that's what counts: staying focused on your job of winning races." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why would Kubica want BMW to be ruined after all the progress they've made the past few years? If they were on the same team, me thinks Kubica would be trying to pull a knife out of his back the first time he shows up the 2x champ.
2006: Renault 2007: McLaren 2008: Renault 2009: BMW 2010: Ferrari Alonso needs to stop changing teams every season
Interesting - surprised that FA had any close friends amongst the drivers - especially a young driver
I don't think so. If they are close friends on that sort of level, its a lot different than coming to a teama dn being surprised by their pompous arrogant rookie that they support more than you. I sympathize with Alonso, I must say.
Alonso has said that he didn't have a problem with Lewis, just the way he was ambushed by the team. We don't know how Alonso gets along with other drivers, only how the media likes to portray him. I remember Villeneuve used to be depicted as a villain a lot, but he's apparently good pals with Button, Massa, and a bunch of other drivers.
I think the other important factor is Kubica's confidence in his own talents and lack of Diva-ness. Seems like a throwback driver who truly knows that he's only as good as the guy staring back at him from the mirror.
Dont let yourselves be fooled. Alonso will not allow himself to be on a team that has another compitent driver. Kubica would be a little more for him to handle than Hamilton was.
Wat? You his manager? And humble Kubica more to handle than Hamilton whose team and father portrays as Jesus?
Didnt know it was a prerequisite to be a Mr nice guy, that fits into your ideal, to be a F1 driver. There again carry on wtih your feeding frenzy it's laughable.
Yeah exactly what I said, I want my drivers to be saints. :-/ Here's the deal: my favorite driver of the recent F1 era is Kimi (from the minute he jumped into that Sauber), and Lewis, being the antithesis of that cool, calm, no-BS Iceman, gets the brunt of my ridicule. He's proven to me time and again that he makes bonehead errors when put under pressure. And he is the embodiment of goody-goody when it comes to the F1 press and his own self righteousness. The mold for "Young F1 driver" has been cast, and he's it. My comment previously was to hilight that the defending 2x WDC came into a team and was let down by their lack of support for him; given instead to their own prodigy. I'm not saying what is right, what is wrong, just my opinion that FA is less intimidated by a threat from a driver, but rather let down by the lack of support from his employer. That's completely understandable to me, and thus I sympathize. I don't crucify him like most of you guys do. You want to talk about "Mr. Nice Guy"? Massa is an all around nice guy, I've heard, but he's not topping my list. Yours, perhaps.
One pf the best things this year has been to see Alonzo relaxed and happy, enjoying his driving. As for Hamilton the english jingoism of the ITV team has put me right off. Branch doesn't fall far from the tree they say. Punting someone elses Porsche backwards through a kids playground in an inner city suburb! Man shouldn't be allowed to drive.
But right now, Massa is hot and Alonso is not. Why do you think it took so long for him to sign with Renault? He had to make sure that there was no way a good driver would be there to challenge him. If Kubica and Alonso are friends now.....how long do you think that would last at BMW. Does it surprise anyone now that BMW is looking good that romours arrise about Alonso going there? As I said before he is like the little spoiled boy who throws the toys out of the pram because they dont suite him. In the mean time..........Forza Massa and Kimi
We all see things differently... I always saw it as Alonso trying to get the best deal for himself to further his title count. If Renault wanted him for a certain period of time, he might be hesitant... looking to the future when some spots could become available at "hotter" teams, he wanted to explore all avenues to the last minute. Most of us will agree, however, that his behaviour last year was not... as one would "expect"... from a WDC. Entertaining though it was, it wasn't mature. But I ask this: if any of us were in his situation, would we act any differently? I can for sure say both "yes" and "no" depending on all the details of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes 2007 that no one will know for years to come. Point is: I say give the guy a break, he's arguably the best driver in the field, and though I don't want him at Ferrari, he's a great driver.
Yes, I do agree. This is what makes him such a great driver, though. That "Latin" passion that forces errors, pushes limits, and reacts before thinking. Like I've always been told: "Act like you've been here before." Fernando certainy didn't act like he'd been to the land of reigning WDC. That's why Kimi slyly pointed at the light and shook his head to Lewis. Kimi's been there. "There" meaning World Champion. "There" meaning losing a championship by 2 points. Kimi, despite all FChat's uproaring, is as cool as they come, but as determined as they come as well. Many call it "lack of caring" here. I call it "I know what I need to do to win a championship. I've been there before." How do you think Alonso would have taken that little incident? I think there would be blood coming from Lewis's head and a murder trial against Fernando.
It would be interesting to know Mario Thyessen's opinion about Alonso coming at BMW. I would think that Alonso's arrival at BMW would be seen as a destabilisiong factor in the team he built since it has been bought from Sauber. Thyessen doesn't seem to be interested in prima donna, when he has a long relationship with Heidfeld and sees rising star Kubica as the equivalent to Hamilton. Alonso has only performed well at Renault because Briatore has favoured him. At McLaren, he couldn't cope with the 'equal treatment' with a rookie, and that shows surely a flaw in his character. I wouldn't be surprised if Alonso never win a GP again in his career. Leaving McLaren because he couldn't suffer the comparision with Hamilton could turn up to be the costliest mistake of his life. He had the equipment to be WDC again, and he threw it away!! I hope the guy never drives for Ferrari!!
Here's the deal!!! ...ha ha..Free advice is worth what you pay for it. Yes there's quite a few who crawl out the woodwork to ridicule when Lewis messes up, but alas guess what!! nowhere to be seen when he sticks it on pole or wins like at Monaco.. Well hang around long enough and the ridicule will come your way..but there again if you judge a driver by there personality then I need go no further really. Fortunately there are people on here that do see things from a level perspective, instead of mentally retarded hate filled posts. The guy made a mistake so have other's **** happen's ..I'am I bothered ..... let me check no 'am not. For the record, I have no big hang ups with any of the drivers. and that includes Massa, and Alonso, if he drives a Ferrari, I also have no problem with it.
William we agree, ::"At McLaren, he couldn't cope with the 'equal treatment' with a rookie, and that shows surely a flaw in his character." and disagree, albeit through gritted teeth: "I hope the guy never drives for Ferrari".
I respect that post, though my problem with Hamilton is most definitely not limited to his personality... Just to clarify.
I don't think we'll ever see Alonso with Ferrari. Not as long as Schumacher is still working with Ferrari. Alonso with BMW would make me want to go take my BMW badges off my car. I hope it doesn't happen. Alonso should stick with the French and be the most hated team in F1. Kubica is a great inspiration to my country but he's still my number two behind Kimi. His comments make me want to go in hiding, but I can see how he is comfortable with a friend and is looking for a better team mate. Whatever floats his boat, my coins are with the Ferrari team anyway