... revisionist sentiment flourishes @ McLaren ~

He didn't hide. When he said that they were racing Raikkonen and Alonso he obviously made a choice. And honestly, if Hamilton and the team had not a few brain fades in the last races (I don't buy the TFHB version), now Ron would be saluted as the genius who won with a rookie.

In the end I think that with all the BS surrounding that team, they did not deserve to win. A happy ending in F1 for once.

 

+1 on all points.

Of course, the TFHB will never see it that way, but both teams screwed the pooch on more than a few occasions.

Cheers,
Ian

 

TFHB?

It was very obvious from where I was watching that McLaren favoured Hamilton and Alonso had to battle against his own team ... crazy situation. And the LH fans say he beat Alonso that year ... wtf!

Anyway thankfully LH has since proven his ability and is the real deal, but that 2007 season was a stuff up for him and Ron IMO.
Pete

 

Saying that ^ I find it rather strange that Alonso himself rates Hamilton as his nearest rival, and the one, if not the best out there.

Seems to me you were proven wrong with the way Hamilton was brought into F1, yes he really is, and was that good from the off

 

And if someone can explain to me why on earth did Mclaren leave Hamilton out on cords n threadbare rubber, whilst he was screaming at them to bring him in for new rubber ... and then tell me, that race fixing, WDC fixing clown Mosley, had nothing at all to do with it.

 

Ron learned his lesson. Never put two aces on the same team.

How do you think this makes Jensen feel?

 

Well exactly, but AFAIKnew RD prided himself on letting his teammates fight it out..

 

I don't find it strange at all. LH is very good. Alonso is acknowledging that. But that has little to do with the politics of the team at the time.

Yes he was very fast when he first started, but as I've said many times so were so many (Alesi is one example that pops into my head) but he was not complete as a driver. I still say he would have become an even better driver quicker if he had learned from Alonso as the established master.

In the end I don't have a beef with LH or Alonso regarding 2007, it is with Ron. Ron handled that year badly because he had signed a contract and then because of personally wanting his protege to look good he fncked up the situation. If Alonso had won the WDC in 2007 with LH second, LH would still have looked like a bloody excellent protege. I will never understand why he made such a mess of it and what he was thinking ??

He should never had accepted Alonso on number 1 terms, never
Pete
ps: Funny thing is, twice Ron has made this stuff up and twice his team and favoured drivers have lost: Senna v Prost (1989?) and then LH v Alonso (LH and McLaren lost IMO because LH AND McLaren could not beat Alonso).

 

Of course it works much more smoothly when only one stands a chance of winning.

 

Yes and no however I do hear you, but IMO either Alonso or Hamilton winning was not on the cards,and that was decided over the boardroom table.

 

Not sure I understand. Are you saying they or the FIA gave it to Ferrari?

If so I agree actually. They definitely gave it away to an undeserving Kimi and Ferrari.
Pete

 

True enuff, however personally I like a fair battle, you argue that this year could have been very boring had Merc chosen a number 1 driver.

Domination by any driver with no competition from anyone, is not a crowd pleaser as far as I'am concerned.

 

The Lewis Nico battle saved the season.

My comments were limited to Macca and Ron's leadership style.

 

IMO it would have not looked good at all Mclaren winning the WDC, taking into consideration all that spygate involved.

 

Cough, cough ... if you think they didn't sort this out after Spa then can we start talking about what price you will pay for my house .

BTW: Not taking anything away from LH, he had the best car and drove well.

Agree, but the only real solution is single car teams.
Pete

 

Yes understood.
Pete

 

Yes I missed you "could" argue out my original post ...it's late ...

 

"Tin foil hat brigade."

I'm not sure uncle Ron started out favoring Hammy, but he seemed to go that direction pretty quickly once he proved he was up to the job - Which no one, not Fred, Ron or anyone else really foresaw. Fred was pissed and showed some immaturity. Hammy was pissed and did the same. Ron lost control of the situation. Whitmarsh didn't appear to have a clue. Bad deal all round.

However, as has been said here many times, "the history books don't lie." Like it or not......

Hopefully, they've all moved on and are significantly more mature now......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Agreed, something had to be said and done

 

A team's number 1 should be decided based on previous results as it is logical to favour the most likely as even F1 has limits on how quickly new components can be manufactured, etc.

But the number 1 status should be reviewed during the season and if the number 2 has a string of wins and is looking good for the WDC, then again it is logical to move the favouritism.

This is how it was done in the good old days and it keeps the season interesting because there are these inter-team battles for favouritism.

If you want to blame somebody it is Michael Schumacher as he demanded number 1 all the time at Ferrari even if he still had not scored a single point. Ridiculous for such a talented driver ... but that were his demands.
Pete

 

Agree, except Whitmarsh still does not have a clue .
Pete

 

I can't argue with that ...

 

I'm not sure he did learn. He claims he'll let them race, and for once at least, I believe him. We here in the peanut gallery all assume he favored Hammy as his protege, but again, nobody at the start of the season gave him a chance against Fred. He was a damn rookie going against a 2X WDC after all!.......

Then he started doing well and Fred let his temperament get the better of him. And then the wheels fell off all of them. Then Krafty's BFF got involved. Bad season all round.

Cheers,
Ian
PS - I may just die laughing if JB is *right* there with Fred next year. Should make for a fascinating season no matter, but only a fool writes off JB..... Particularly if there's any 'nursemaiding' of the PU needed....

 

+1 that's somewhat how I felt it went down, then add spygate into the mix ....