MONTEZEMELO Interview March 4, 2008: Boring Season Ahead?

I remember when Coulthard used to say the same thing pre-season...

What Massa means to say is that he has the exact same car and team as Kimi but that is where the comparisons end.

Massa's comment is exactly the same tactics employed by McLaren last year. Both Ferrari and McLaren allowed both their drivers to race for the title until one was mathematically eliminated. It was fortunate for Kimi that Massa fell behind in the standings as that allowed Ferrari to focus on his title bid. McLaren, on the other hand, had both drivers in contention and therefore could not support one driver over the other.

it is entirely fortuitous that things played out as they had. Had Lewis fallen behind earlier in the season, McLaren would have focused on Alonso, and had Massa not been as mediocre as he was, it could have been Ferrari with two drivers in contention to the end. I don't buy the "we are a team and the other guys aren't" argument as both teams followed identical strategies throughout the season.

 

Every season, too!

 

Well, apart from the way that one of the MCL drivers dropped a dime on his own team and went away mad to drive for Renault...

 

That relates more to the driver than the team, yes?

As far as dropping a dime goes, would you have preferred that he kept quiet and McLaren got away with it? You can't criticize McLaren for cheating and then criticize Alonso for dropping a dime. Either he did the right thing or he didn't, depending on whether you feel McLaren ought to have been caught or gotten away with it. Had it been any other McLaren employee who publicized the emails, he would have been lauded as a whistle-blower doing the right thing, but if it is Alonso then he must be a turncoat with questionable loyalties?. You can't have it both ways.

 

a) Loose lips sink ships.
b) Actually, my girlfriend says you can have it both ways. (and she is something of a whislteblower herself) See point a).

 

Is Luca saying that it will be boring because of a lack of competition, or a lack of controversy? If it's the former, then I'll be disappointed. If it's the latter, then go ahead and bore me.

 

Driver is part of the team yes ? Important part too ...

 

Not as important as Ron Dennis. Just ask Paul Stoddart.

 

In the Gazzetta dello Sport article Luca says he hopes it's boring in the sense that the season isn't resolved in the last kilometer of the last GP of the season like last year.

 

Nigel Stepney was an important part of the Ferrari team...

 

It became a Massa thread when you posted an article where Massa claims to have an equal chance at winning the WDC. In two weeks reality is going to hit hard on that assertion...except in the eyes of the "Schumassa" apologists who simply can't accept facts...

 

Could we have had a more exciting finish to the WDC than last year? 3 drivers with a chance to win it and the top 3 separated by 1 point in the final standings?

Stepneygate aside, 2007 was the most thrilling season in years.

 

Are you insinuating that FA be commended because he "did the right thing"?

 

+100!

 

+1 Of course it was, especially when it rained..


Don't get why Luca would say it going to be a less than exciting year, With TC gone, best drivers spread into rival teams seems a great recipe for a good season to me.. He must prefer winning in court then.

 

That won't occur at Mclaren this year. Even if the unthinkable occured and Heikki managed to outqualify Lewis on a regular basis, I'm certain he's already been informed, McHam is to finish ahead from Australia on. The team spirit Luca's espousing will last only as long as LH's point lead doesn't go beyond 20, imho.

 

Ridiculous. McLaren has followed the same policy for 30 years. Are you privy to information that something has changed?

 

I am saying that you can't have it both ways. You can't complain that Alonso "dropped a dime" on McLaren at the same time you complain about McLaren hiding the truth.

If Alonso had not done what he had done, do you think those emails would have come to light? And if they had not been discovered, do you think McLaren would have been hit with those penalties in the second hearing? You can't applaud McLaren's penalty while at the same time complain about Alonso being "dropping a dime".

 

Yes x 100 million. I believe Heikki is in the unenviable Johnny Dumfries role this season and that's part 2 of the reason why Keeks advised Nico to stay away. After last season's sinkhole, Mclaren aren't likely to drop the ball a second time, especially if it's over a question of decorum. Naive to think any other way.

 

Lets hope by boring he means a repeat of the 2004 season, by having Kimi win all the races (except Brazil, we'll let Felipe have that one)

 

IMO, I agree with McLaren being punished because they were caught cheating. However I do not agree with the apparent reasoning behind why Alonso wanted to "drop a dime". I'm glad the truth came out but that doesn't mean I think Alonso should suddenly don a halo and be considered a saint just as I would feel the same way if anyone else "dropped a dime" using Alonso's attitude and reasoning of, "I'm only doing this to save my butt" and also, "I'm willing to screw anyone who doesn't give into my demands regardless of if I deserve them or not."

Btw...it's funny using the "dropping a dime" phrase? I feel like I'm back in highschool...

Word?