FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[ARTICO]

http://www.as.com/motor/articulo/formul ... imot_1/Tes

Published in sports Spanish newspaper

[Martin]

Any Spanish speakers out there that can give us the gist?

[Selcouth_Feline]

Try this....apologies for some of the dodgy translating

There are three, maybe four, teams fighting over Fernando Alonso in this final stretch of the race for his services. The duel of offers and counter-offers has improved the possibilities for the pockets of the champion. Also, in the last month, he has been able to scrutinize the technical abilties of Red Bull, Renault, Toyota.... and the surprising form of his former team, McLaren.

Ron Dennis has received strong opposition from the sponsors for his decision to let the champion leave the team. Their engineers will miss him. After accusing him of being a traitor, to question in public and in private the mood of him and make him the big villain of the scandal in 2007, a few days ago we uncovered a bid for his services for a year only with the same sotr of deal as last year. And so did the sponsors know Spanish, Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña.

Of course, Alonso has failed to give more than a smile to know the interest of his former team. And his response has been first silence, and then requesting a commitment in writing of all the changes he requires in order to return - Among them, making their own strategic career outside Hamilton or receive assurances that they will not see repeat events such as the pressure of the wheels being incorrect. In other words, the same objections that led to the breakdown in November. Fernando is not ready to return while Ron Dennis is leading the team and so a return is unlikely.

But there is still a chance that the he will return. None of the drivers will move until it has been finalised where he is going. If the Spanish star finally goes to Renault, Kovalainen will be the companion of Hamilton. And if he is going to go to Toyota or Red Bull, MCLaren may try Adrian Sutil. Nico Rosberg not want favoritism toward Lewis sinking his career. Dennis still has the option of Pedro de la Rosa up his sleeve

The current state of negotiations is expected. It seems Red Bull may be first choice ... Unless Renault accept that the firm for two years with the second open and are not sanctioned by the FIA tomorrow. Toyota can be virtually ruled out, but the counter offer against Alonso's original refusal cannot be ruled out. The team based in Cologne have money to spare to evolve the car. His arrival would mean the departure of Jarno Trulli. And his co-driver would be Timo Glock. But it is the team that least likes Fernando. A decision is not expected until next week.

Meanwhile, in Jerez has continued the duel between Red Bull and Renault to show Alonso which team has more ability. Piquet was quicker than Webber by three tenths. Toyota look to be in the running.

[Gamba]

http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/071205091959.shtml

[Martin]

Well done SF, very interesting. And the acuracy confirmed by the link from Gamba.

I dont think that it would be wise for FA to return to McL. The team would find it very difficult to 'gel'. Not least there would likely be 2 sub teams LH & FA and probably regular disjointed niggles. The trouble is that FA does not have too many options unless he takes more than a 1 year contract. I wonder how certain he is of a Ferrari drive in 2009?

[bud]

interesting.... doubt it though.

and yes i wonder also how certain of a Ferrari drive is he for 09. And would he want to team up with Kimi?
Maybe he wants 1 year contracts from here on in so he can dictate which teams he goes to so he can always stay in a title contender seat

[f1ea]

I don't think Alonso's 1-yr contract desire is ONLY for the hope of a Ferrari seat... several other teams will have vacancies in the end of 2008, and even more so if they know Fernando will be available.

Anyway.. Fernando back in Mclaren is kinda weird....... but possible

[Martin]

interesting.... doubt it though.

and yes i wonder also how certain of a Ferrari drive is he for 09. And would he want to team up with Kimi?
Maybe he wants 1 year contracts from here on in so he can dictate which teams he goes to so he can always stay in a title contender seat

.

Yes and I dont think that he would work well with Kimi. Kimi is a straight forward Scandinavian and I dont think that he would take kindly to Latin pedantics. He certainly would not allow FA any benefits in treatment over him. FA seems to be a bit of a lost soul at the moment. Its amazing isn't it that a 2 time world champ is heving problems getting a drive.?

He will certainly end up driving for somebody, but he will have to compromise. He is probably still in the 'sabre rattling' stage at the moment.

[F1tastic]

..Its amazing isn't it that a 2 time world champ is heving problems getting a drive.?....

Not amazing at all. Who would want to give him a job after stabbing his previous employer in the back like that?

[Selcouth_Feline]

Its amazing isn't it that a 2 time world champ is heving problems getting a drive.?

I don't think he's having problems getting a drive. However I think he has been surprised that the likes of Ferrari don't want him and I think he's trying to weight up what's going to be best for him to stop his career going backwards.

[texasmr2]

I'm finding it hard to believe RD has offered him a drive because McLaren's main sponsor Mercedes dont want him. It seem's the last paragraph is being overlooked by some also, it read's:

"McLaren is unaware of any current discussions with Fernando and / or his management," the team told F1-Live.com, thereby putting an end to such gossip.

[Martin]

..Its amazing isn't it that a 2 time world champ is having problems getting a drive.?....

Not amazing at all. Who would want to give him a job after stabbing his previous employer in the back like that?

All the more amazing then that the employer is the only one offering him a 1 year contract.
I know that McL have their reasons, but even so, it is amazing.
I still dont think that it would be a good move for FA or McL if he went back. Ron Dennis is just trying to appease the sponsors, and McL does have financial issues at the moment but I don't think that FAs temperament would allow him to work well with McL for another season.

[bud]

I'm finding it hard to believe RD has offered him a drive because McLaren's main sponsor Mercedes dont want him. It seem's the last paragraph is being overlooked by some also, it read's:

"McLaren is unaware of any current discussions with Fernando and / or his management," the team told F1-Live.com, thereby putting an end to such gossip.

i wouldnt call Mercedes a sponsor they are the largest share holder in the team

[f1usa]

Martin, I'm in 100% agreement and to further appease the Spanish sponsors, RD will put Pedro de LaRossa in vacant seat.

[f1ea]

Kimi is a straight forward Scandinavian and I dont think that he would take kindly to Latin pedantics.

And since when is Ferrari to abide by what Kimi would take kindly??
Kimi is scandinavian and Felipe Brazilian = latin.
Barrichelo was Brazilian and MS german.
Italians are as latin as can get, and Kimi seems to be having a fine time....

Ferrari know that neither would accept playing 2nd to anyone...
but even if Alonso and Kimi were on the same team, the job of the Team head is to keep the harmony to win races and championships. If both feel they are being treated equal then there should be no complaints when obvious team-oriented decisions take place after one of the two gets out of WDC contention.

The problems come when the team SAY the drivers are treated equal and they aren't.

The reason Fernando is out of a seat is because his decision to leave only became public late in the season, and most teams have their drivers secure. It would be shameful to F1 to start kicking out contracts to secured drivers, just to make place for a talented driver...