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Without a shadow of a doubt Alonso will blow the doors off Massa. No infact I will say the whole outcome of the season will be dependant on who does better in the first few races. I think after what happened at McLaren, Alonso will be paranoid about it being a level playing field, If Alonso feels it is not then it will go wrong for him.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. 
I don't think Alonso will be as easily affected by by any favoritism for Massa at Ferrari as i believe Kimi was in 2008. In 2007, Alonso applied himself quite actively to overcoming the difficulties he had within the team by driving with determination and aggression rather than capitulating. I think his consistency was affected though and that is what I believe may be a danger for him if he feels Massa is getting preferential treatment. Alonso's consistency and his ability to work with the team to get results over an entire race weekend is his big strength imo and if he is compromised in this area and it becomes a straight fight on pure pace on the track, he may have some difficulty.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. Klien eyes race seat with BMW team
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, August 18th 2009, 12:51 GMT
BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien has said he would like nothing more than to secure a race seat with his current team next year, as it bids to find a buyer to keep it in the sport.
With majority shareholders BMW having announced that it is quitting F1 at the end of this season, efforts have been made over the past few weeks to put a package together than will keep the Hinwil-based operation on the grid in 2010.
Although that uncertainty means the team's current drivers have no guarantee about their own futures, Klien says he hopes he can make an F1 return with his current employers - after confirming other teams have approached him.
"There have been requests throughout the season," Klien told his official website. "In F1 everything is always on the move. The new teams are very interested in drivers with experience but a certain long term perspective.
"At only 26 and with my sixth F1 season now I think I can offer both. But also the established teams are looking around for new drivers at the moment. A few drivers are on the way out or changing teams.
"Despite those requests that I have received, the team from Hinwil would be my first choice. The technical resources are great and the passion for racing fits very well with my idea of an F1 team."
Klien admits that he was as shocked as the rest of the staff by the BMW news, but hopes that the team can pull off something similar to Brawn GP, which was rescued after Honda withdrew from the sport.
"By February nobody knew if they [Brawn GP] would make it at all," he said. "And then they started by driving circles around everyone else. As for me personally: like most drivers I am in a waiting position now.
"As soon as the first pieces of the puzzles fall into the right places, thing may happen quickly. But in 2010 there will be more jobs for F1 drivers than previously, but not any more drivers with grand prix experience on the market. I feel I am in quite a good position."
Klien eyes race seat with BMW team
By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, August 18th 2009, 12:51 GMT
BMW Sauber test driver Christian Klien has said he would like nothing more than to secure a race seat with his current team next year, as it bids to find a buyer to keep it in the sport.
With majority shareholders BMW having announced that it is quitting F1 at the end of this season, efforts have been made over the past few weeks to put a package together than will keep the Hinwil-based operation on the grid in 2010.
Although that uncertainty means the team's current drivers have no guarantee about their own futures, Klien says he hopes he can make an F1 return with his current employers - after confirming other teams have approached him.
"There have been requests throughout the season," Klien told his official website. "In F1 everything is always on the move. The new teams are very interested in drivers with experience but a certain long term perspective.
"At only 26 and with my sixth F1 season now I think I can offer both. But also the established teams are looking around for new drivers at the moment. A few drivers are on the way out or changing teams.
"Despite those requests that I have received, the team from Hinwil would be my first choice. The technical resources are great and the passion for racing fits very well with my idea of an F1 team."
Klien admits that he was as shocked as the rest of the staff by the BMW news, but hopes that the team can pull off something similar to Brawn GP, which was rescued after Honda withdrew from the sport.
"By February nobody knew if they [Brawn GP] would make it at all," he said. "And then they started by driving circles around everyone else. As for me personally: like most drivers I am in a waiting position now.
"As soon as the first pieces of the puzzles fall into the right places, thing may happen quickly. But in 2010 there will be more jobs for F1 drivers than previously, but not any more drivers with grand prix experience on the market. I feel I am in quite a good position."
The forgotten man...
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. I don't think Alonso will be as easily affected by by any favoritism for Massa at Ferrari as i believe Kimi was in 2008. In 2007, Alonso applied himself quite actively to overcoming the difficulties he had within the team by driving with determination and aggression rather than capitulating. I think his consistency was affected though and that is what I believe may be a danger for him if he feels Massa is getting preferential treatment. Alonso's consistency and his ability to work with the team to get results over an entire race weekend is his big strength imo and if he is compromised in this area and it becomes a straight fight on pure pace on the track, he may have some difficulty.
I don't think Alonso will be as easily affected by by any favoritism for Massa at Ferrari as i believe Kimi was in 2008. In 2007, Alonso applied himself quite actively to overcoming the difficulties he had within the team by driving with determination and aggression rather than capitulating. I think his consistency was affected though and that is what I believe may be a danger for him if he feels Massa is getting preferential treatment. Alonso's consistency and his ability to work with the team to get results over an entire race weekend is his big strength imo and if he is compromised in this area and it becomes a straight fight on pure pace on the track, he may have some difficulty.
Well if he spits the dummy out like he did in 07 at McLaren his career at Ferrari will be shortlived.
Le coeur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. Nico Rosberg says he is ready to take on the challenge of going up against Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, after emerging as clear favourite to take the second seat at the team if it drops Heikki Kovalainen.
The 24-year-old, who was Hamilton's team-mate in karting, had been linked to a switch from Williams to BMW until the German manufacturer announced it was quitting the sport.
"I have been team-mate with Lewis before so that wouldn't be a problem," he said. "It would be fun and very tough also, a combination - sweet and sour.
"I would like a good team-mate for sure," he added, explaining that the identity of his partner is a factor in his decision, as he weighs up his options for 2010. "Team-mate is a factor. Potential for development for the future, who the key people in the team are and the management and everything. All these things come into it.
"Budget, salary they are able to pay. I am prepared to put salary last, that's nowhere near the priority as I really would like to have some good results now."
Rosberg admitted that Williams, the team he has raced for since entering F1 in 2006, is also keen to retain his services.
He added that he was happy with the options he had for next year, but was keen to shore up his future as quickly as possible.
"I'm sure they are very keen to keep me on board," said Rosberg. "I've done a good job for them and fit in very well with the team and everything so they are pushing to keep me on board for sure.
"I am still very pleased with my situation," he added. "I have various good options and at the moment I am still figuring out what the best way to go is.
"I am close to having a clear picture now of what the options are, I'm still gathering a few bits and pieces.
"I had a discussion with Williams last week to clarify what the situation is. I think sooner or later I'll be able to progress in a specific direction."
Rosberg said his goal now was to move up the grid with which ever team he chose to race for next year.
"It's the next step," he said. "I want to go further up. I've been finishing fourth and fifth and I want to be finishing first and second and third, which is the next step.
"It's a very important step and I need to judge where I am going to get the highest chance of getting that."
Rosberg will come to his senses when McLaren fall back at Spa as the aero-gremlins return and he could potentially duel the Red Bulls for the win.
The balance issues are fixed as well so the car should no longer tripod. You also got to think the MP4-24 was probably the second slowest car on the grid at the start of the season and last race it won completely on merit even if the car did suit the track. To me that shows that the team knows how to move forward even from a really poor starting position.
I dare say the dole office for those two! Rosberg will come to his senses when McLaren fall back at Spa as the aero-gremlins return and he could potentially duel the Red Bulls for the win.
The thing is McLaren have changed the whole aerodynamic direction and package of the car so hopefully once the package is developed a bit more the aero problems should be fixed
Hmm, i'm basically resigned to the fact that Rosberg is leaving Williams for McLaren, but if someone like Heidfeld/Kubica comes in it won't be so bad because the standard of driver won't be any worse, and arguably better.
I do wonder where Kovalainen would go though... and Klien given what he has said. Anyone care to guess?
It wasn't as bad as that by the time Melbourne rolled around. The problem McLaren had was they started the racing season with a decidedly mediocre car, having only partly cured the gremlins that had made the car so poor in the Winter Testing.At the start of season McLaren carried on developing it's car in the same direction to make quick gains but by the time they got to Barcelona they were pretty much at a dead end with none of the problems fixed just negated. After that they completely changed direction of development more towards the Red Bull and Brawn way of aerodynamic thinking. Thats why it took a long time to get the new package but as they have only just started to down this development avenue gains should be made quite rapidly until that direction is optimised. I still don't think McLaren can be beaten in terms of development race and moving forward from a poor start. Another interesting thing is that it looks like LH helped out in driving development forward which is really encouraging because for a while i was not sure if we had drivers who knew how to guide development to see what i mean have a look at this video http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 211911.stm
- By darwin daliYeah, not very active here, unfortunately. Is it […]
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