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[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde Thursday, January 31st 2008, 16:15 GMT

Fernando Alonso, Flavio Briatore and Nelsinho Piquet says Renault team boss Flavio Briatore will not allow a rift between him and teammate Fernando Alonso during the 2008 season.

Alonso is rejoining the French squad after leaving the McLaren team two years ahead of the end of his contract after an uncomfortable season with team boss Ron Dennis and British driver Lewis Hamilton, who enjoyed a sensational debut season.

Piquet will be making his debut this year, but the young Brazilian says he has no intention to upset his team, and claims he is ready to play the waiting game.

"I don't know for sure, but I think one of the problems was their team boss not being able to control the drivers," Piquet told reporters about the McLaren situation during the launch of the R28.

"I think Flavio is perfect at knowing how to put the drivers in their own place and knowing how to talk to us and tell us how to focus on the right things. So I don't think we will have a problem. I think Flavio won't allow it."

He added: "I think the press puts a lot of pressure that they don't need to put, as if I had to prove something. But I think I just need to do my job.

"I think it's much worse for me if I going into a fight because, first of all, I'm in a team where Fernando won two championships. I'm in a team where Flavio loves Fernando, they've been together for a long time. So I think it would be a stupid thing to do if I went into a fight.

"So I think the best thing I can do is learn as much as I can and the day I have a chance to win a race I'll win a race."

Although 22-year-old Piquet admits he will have a lot to learn, the Brazilian says he will have the same equipment as Alonso.

"There's no number two or number one," he said. "Both cars are exactly the same. It's a sport where investments are 100 hundred million, 200 hundred million dollars and they wouldn't make a car that's worse than the other.

"I think for sure in the beginning I'll be learning much more than anything else. I think once I get in the rhythm, once I show that I'm able to set his pace then it's going to be a different story but at the moment all I have to do is learn and learn and once I'm able to show equal pace I think that will be a different story."

Cowardly Alonso; this is basically code for the Spaniard having it written into his contract that he's number one. Piquet's definitions of a number one and a number two driver is also incredibly amusing. It's not just about equal gear; it's about preferences in strategy etc. They may have the same car, but Alonso will be given first dibs on when he pits etc.

Further, Piquet says that what happened between Alonso and Hamilton was McLaren not being able to control their drivers. No s*** Sherlock! But the reason why this was not possible is very different from what he implies. Alonso was a snake in the grass, tried to subvert the team's hierarchy, resorted to bribing the team's mechanics and engineers (imagine, Alonso on £20 million from McLaren alone, no personal deals included, and he offers you a pathetic £700! How low does he think they were!), and went in the huff because he was being bettered by a rookie driver and couldn't compete how a real champion does: fair and square.

It's nice to see Fraudster Flavio (various other epithets could be attached) has got things under control for his boyfriend. Perhaps the romantic imagery he uses was not intended, but it sums up things very well: ''Im in a team where Flavio loves Fernando, they've been together for a long time.'

[racechick]

Nice one McLaren Fan! You've hit the nail on the head there

[8-ball]

piquet knows his place and he knows all he has to do is wait for Alonso to get out of the way so he can fulfill his potential. With no competition in the team Alonso should be able to flourish but the question is with the car. I'd love to see Alonso win but he doesn't deserve it. At least Shumi earned his number 1 status

[7UpJordan]

Piquet Jr may think that, but what will his father think of it? After all his father went to Williams having number 1 driver written into his contract when it was signed just before Mansell started winning races in late 1985, and we all know what happened afterwards.

[Martin]

But what could Piquet say? " that tosser Alonso has got his postion tied up with Flavio and I have no choice" ? No of course he couldn't.
Also there seemed to heavy emphasis on 'I have a lot to learn' which seems coded for - either - 'I am not too confident at the moment and I certainly wont match FA in the same car like LH did' - or - Flavio has told me to keep my place - behind FA and I promise to be good'.
Good summing up though M.F.
If FA does have some kind of agreement to be number 1 it shows a lack of his own confidence that he needs to do that doesn't it. Just imagine what it would do to his ego if another rookie came in a beat him!!

[f1ea]

It's not just about equal gear; it's about preferences in strategy etc. They may have the same car, but Alonso will be given first dibs on when he pits etc.

Isn't this exactly what Mclaren does and have been doing for ages??
Driver equality is not just about the car. It's the 'little' things that make you the preferred driver. Mclaren will be doing these little things to Lewis over Heikki in 2008. Now... I don't think this is wrong. I just find wrong that they keep trying to deny this.

Think about what Lewis brings to F1 (and motorsports) in England. Compare this to what Alonso does in Spain and Renault: Record breaking att. in pre-season testing, an extra GP in Spain, Renault with more sponsors and budget than they had last year. On the other hand, england hasn't had a WDC in a long time, the british GP is struggling to keep its date, Mclaren is even considering to sell (this may be a rumour, but anyway) etc etc...

Would Mclaren to let this opportunity slip? How dumb would this be?
They signed Lewis for 5 yrs because he can bring far more to Mclaren if he succeeds than Alonso and Heikki altogether. Hence... Lewis will be favoured.

[McLaren Fan]

At least Shumi earned his number 1 status

How did he do that exactly?

[racechick]

By ordering his team mate not to overtake or to let him through

[texasmr2]

How did he do that exactly?

Your right his skill as a driver had nothing to do with his #1 status ! My gawd are you that dense not to realize that Schumi is a great champion and deserving of that status while racing? I could have been a 'back of the grid non-Ferrari' team supporter yet I'm not so narrow minded as to make a statement like that!

By ordering his team mate not to overtake or to let him through

That's what's called "securing" a championship incase you have missed something?

[McLaren Fan]

That's what's called "securing" a championship incase you have missed something?

So Schumacher needed help to secure the title in the early rounds of the season then? In my view, the only time there should be number one and two drivers is when the season is getting on and the team have to decide to back to one over the other, otherwise nobody will get anything.

Your right his skill as a driver had nothing to do with his #1 status ! My gawd are you that dense not to realize that Schumi is a great champion and deserving of that status while racing? I could have been a 'back of the grid non-Ferrari' team supporter yet I'm not so narrow minded as to make a statement like that!?

I think you will find your post is actually the dense one. Let me explain: 8-Ball claimed Alonso had not earned his right to being the number one driver but Schumacher did. How can that be? Alonso had won two titles before coming to McLaren (and now he's back at Renault, with number one status) so should he not have been entitled to equality just the same as Schumacher got as a double world champion coming to Ferrari all those years ago?

For the record, as I've said before but, as usual, nobody listens because they only read the first paragraph of your posts or take certain phrases out of context, that whilst I don't think Schumacher is the greatest driver (although he's one of them), I respect him for knowing what he wanted and grabbing hold of it, and although he cheated at times and did have number one status, at least does not be a hypocrite and criticise others for doing the same.

[texasmr2]

You or your post are not worth replying to anymore, life is too short!

[McLaren Fan]

You or your post are not worth replying to anymore, life is too short!

Can I ask who was the one who started the insults? That would be you calling me 'dense'. I simply gave you a courteous reply clarifying my point. Given that I could have insulted you in return, I'd say there is nothing wrong with my above post. I'm sorry we're disagreeing, but I'm not sorry about what I've said.

[texasmr2]

That's the whole thing BRO YOUR NEVER WRONG or you were MIS-UNDERSTOOD!!!

I'm in no mean's sorry for what I have said either but hey what the F#ck am I doing explaining myself FOR ????????????

[nikon133]

From [i]autosport.com:

Cowardly Alonso; this is basically code for the Spaniard having it written into his contract that he's number one. Piquet's definitions of a number one and a number two driver is also incredibly amusing. It's not just about equal gear; it's about preferences in strategy etc. They may have the same car, but Alonso will be given first dibs on when he pits etc.

Further, Piquet says that what happened between Alonso and Hamilton was McLaren not being able to control their drivers. No s*** Sherlock! But the reason why this was not possible is very different from what he implies. Alonso was a snake in the grass, tried to subvert the team's hierarchy, resorted to bribing the team's mechanics and engineers (imagine, Alonso on £20 million from McLaren alone, no personal deals included, and he offers you a pathetic £700! How low does he think they were!), and went in the huff because he was being bettered by a rookie driver and couldn't compete how a real champion does: fair and square.

It's nice to see Fraudster Flavio (various other epithets could be attached) has got things under control for his boyfriend. Perhaps the romantic imagery he uses was not intended, but it sums up things very well: ''Im in a team where Flavio loves Fernando, they've been together for a long time.'

Well of course he is number one. He is 2x champ. As it is already said, one driver will always have better strategy and other small advantages, and that has to be No.1 driver.

I dislike Flavio, but I am very certain he will not allow Budapest fiasco repeating in Renault - like RD did. Good for him.

[AKR]

F1ea wrote : Isn't this exactly what Mclaren does and have been doing for ages??
Driver equality is not just about the car. It's the 'little' things that make you the preferred driver. Mclaren will be doing these little things to Lewis over Heikki in 2008. Now... I don't think this is wrong. I just find wrong that they keep trying to deny this.

Think about what Lewis brings to F1 (and motorsports) in England. Compare this to what Alonso does in Spain and Renault: Record breaking att. in pre-season testing, an extra GP in Spain, Renault with more sponsors and budget than they had last year. On the other hand, england hasn't had a WDC in a long time, the british GP is struggling to keep its date, Mclaren is even considering to sell (this may be a rumour, but anyway) etc etc...

Would Mclaren to let this opportunity slip? How dumb would this be?
They signed Lewis for 5 yrs because he can bring far more to Mclaren if he succeeds than Alonso and Heikki altogether. Hence... Lewis will be favoured.

EXACTLY! Well said and all true. I couldn't of said that better myself.

And in regards to Flavio and Alonso. Well Flavio (Italian) knows Alonso (Spanish) has the divine right to be number 1 driver - divine I use it like the South American top football players sometimes like to say things are in relation to them. Remember Recoba of Uruguay said to the Australians that Uruguay had the divine right to qualify for the 2006 World Cup instead of the Australians, even though in the end Australia qualified. South America = Spanish/Portuguese Mostly. And lastly Piquet Jr, he accepts Alonso as number 1 driver (Brazil/Portuguese). Now Italian/Spanish/Poruguese = Latin. The Latin way win at all cost meaning if you need somone to be number one who is probably better then let them be and shutup. Now the British way. Lewis is British and so is McLaren so give the best car to Lewis just make it a big secret and pretend its all even so no one can say s***. Ie Lewis secretly got better treatment than Alonso in 2007, what a joke, what an insult and what a slap in the face! No wonder Alonso cracked it. I mean Alonso was 2 times world champion. Lewis was a rookie so what gives? Personally I like the Latin way. At least the Latin way is upfront and honest because no secret shifty business. FORZA FERRARI and if Ferrari can't win then VAMOS ARRIBA ALONSO...................