'No number one' at McLaren McLaren will never do-a-Ferrari and appoint a clear number one driver, team chairman Ron Dennis has insisted. He denied that incoming recruit Juan Pablo Montoya's win over incumbent Kimi Räikkönen in Brazil last month was the first installation of a winter battle to secure the Woking-based team's primary attention. "No, no way," team principal Dennis told a reporter after the season ending grand prix near Sao Paulo. "We don't have number ones -- we have equal opportunities." But Ron Dennis does hope that the combination 'Räikkönen-Montoya' appears - in whatever order - right at the top of the timing screen on a regular basis from 2005. Source: f1racing.net Old Ron Hakin...I mean, Dennis, is a constant source of entertainment. Jim
For the most part Ron has been fair towards his drivers as seen in the Senna-Prost wars. However he did have team orders once in a while. Remember Hakkinen's first victory? They asked DC to allow him through. Those who live in the glass house...
True. Because he let Senna and Prost hammer away on each other we got to see some awesome racing in the late 80s early 90s. Formula 1 was all the better because of it. Had he not let them the procession would have been as boring as this past year's.
It was admirable what Ron Dennis did with Prost and Senna for those two years when McLaren dominated and pretty much was not under any outside threat. I do like how he decides on team order: whoever is leading in points by the halfway point of the season is the number one driver unless the championship is already in the bag, then it is open season for the drivers. But honestly, I am not sure if that would work these days, especially with the current point system. In order for a team or driver to bag the championship mathmatically, the season will have to be 4/5 over. And I think that the Ferrari-Schumacher relationship was very much the same as McLaren-Senna relationship after Prost left for Ferrari. And let's not forget, Prost wanted the same from Ferrari as well, which in term caused Mansell's departure from Ferrari. Also, DC was never really a threat to MH during those two championships, which is similar to MS vs. RB. Both DC and RB are GP winners, but MS and MH are WDC winners. I think that is just the nature of the current day Formula One.
What about other emerging teams? Do you think BAR will let Button and Sato hammer on each other? And what about Toyota now? Truli and Ralf I think are also equally matched. And don't argue with me about Sato not being up to Button. Considering the guy didn't start racing until he was 23 I'd say he arguably has more raw talent than most on the starting grid. You don't sweep the British F3 title with that little experience the way he did without being both fast and consistent. If his car is as reliable as Button's this year we should see a good inter-team fight.
Anthony, I think you hit the nail on the head. DC and RB need to be a threat. I love all the conspiracy threads about the downtrodden RB. Hey, you have to catch him to pass him and that aint been happenin'. Same with DC and MH. Although what I was refering to was the numerous DC pull overs to allow MH the win. Come on Ron! You need to wear safety glasses around Dennis to keep from getting poked in the eye from his growing nose. Jim edit: Senna, I think Sato would take out the entire grid to obtain a win. He has also been around long enough to show us what he's got - and he is not within sight of Button. I do not think this "battle" will be an issue.
WHAT ... Sato has many times out qualified Button, thus he has the speed. I think very much that Button has been shown up by Sato. Sato though needs to maintain this performance over a full race distance ... Pete's opinion
That is an interesting question. Where does one go on vacation if you already live in Monaco? Disney World? The Caribbean?
He's trying very hard to get in at Williams. Frank has to choose between DC, Pizzonia, and Heidfeld. I think he'll probably go for DC actually.
He is going to clinch the World Championship. Just wait and see. It is his year. Trust me, I have it from a reliable source.
Ron Dennis is not the only one with the short memory... This forum has its very own version of Ron... Anyway, It does not matter what Ron thinks anymore. McLaren will enjoy not having both its cars not finish because of faulty engines and having a mad driver on their hands. Kimi will quit them at the end of the year to join Ferrari.
How pissed will Ron be if Williams is able to bring Mika back? I like DC but I don't he'll be racing next year. He just doesn't seem to have the speed. I'll go along with Pete on Sato. Also, I'm sure a lot of people would have said that Senna would take out the field if he thought he could win. I'm not saying he's as good as Senna! But, if you look at the number of years he's had to work on his race craft in comparison to the those around him who've been racing before the age of ten... then I'd say he's doing pretty bloody well. And he always makes the races interesting
Lets see if Williams is serious about it. I do remember Ron Dennis saying that Hakkinen had a place in the Mclaren team if he wanted back .... so he would be pissed.
Yes Mr. Dennis seemed to favor Hakk over DC but Hakk was usually faster. It was never written into the contract like fearri.
