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[Mikep99]

Having 'known' you now for oh, is it 8 years? I'm afraid I'd have to confirm this, especially when you're off your meds

yeah about 8 years i think, my meds have changed in those years though im alot placid now dont you think?

Yes, that's true, you've mellowed a tad

It must be because of all the excess hot air

[nikon133]

Did you not see the interview with Heikki and Lewis at the start of the season on ITV? Heikki is Lewis' rear gunner, it's plain to see...

Now, saying it multiple times does not make it true either.

I see it as a verbal agreement/contract between two individual's before the third party, HK, was even a consideration or in the picture so honestly what's all the fuss about, am I missing something I dont think so?

I agree with you here Tex. I cant quite see what this arguement is about.

McLaren have never claimed equality of renumeration, their claim is equality of opportunity to win races. Drivers renumeration package is determined by market value(in other words what another team would be prepared to pay for him), At the time Lewis and Ron made this deal Alonso was on 10 times Lewis' salary so if you follow your line of arguement through Lewis was being treated unequally
Lewis and Heikki will be given equal machinary and opportunity as were Lewis and Alonso . Paychecks and perks are a completely seperate issue.

Well said. Although my own view is that if Ron Dennis said to Hamilton he could have the car as a serious deal, then I think it should be extended to Kovalainen as a token gesture. The thing is, however, we don't know the ins and outs of the deal - was it a joke? was it serious? - and, as you say racechick, pay packages etc. is a completely separate issue from McLaren's policy of equality.

Yeah, such gift should be for a champion - not just for Lewis if he makes it champion. While it is normal for every team boss to have his fav pilot, I'd like to see a bit more diplomacy there - I really don't like when RD so blatantly shows who is his boy. He should keep it more professional, in my opinion. Or at least keep quiet about such things. Even in Ferrari during Schumacher era, while we all did know who's the daddy (and who's making bigger bucks), I can't recall such tokens of personal preference from Todt or any other Ferrari exec.

[McLaren Fan]

Yeah, such gift should be for a champion - not just for Lewis if he makes it champion. While it is normal for every team boss to have his fav pilot, I'd like to see a bit more diplomacy there - I really don't like when RD so blatantly shows who is his boy. He should keep it more professional, in my opinion. Or at least keep quiet about such things. Even in Ferrari during Schumacher era, while we all did know who's the daddy (and who's making bigger bucks), I can't recall such tokens of personal preference from Todt or any other Ferrari exec.

I agree. Although Ron Dennis is, overall, ultra-professional, every once in a while he comes out with a remark such as this, which is, in it self, clumsy, or can be made to look that way by the media and his opponents.

[racechick]

Yeah, such gift should be for a champion - not just for Lewis if he makes it champion. While it is normal for every team boss to have his fav pilot, I'd like to see a bit more diplomacy there - I really don't like when RD so blatantly shows who is his boy. He should keep it more professional, in my opinion. Or at least keep quiet about such things. Even in Ferrari during Schumacher era, while we all did know who's the daddy (and who's making bigger bucks), I can't recall such tokens of personal preference from Todt or any other Ferrari exec.

Mmmm you might like to run that theory past Barichello et al. "Rubens mate.....a word about your position; whenever you get chance to hand over a potential win to Michael you must do so (after all he is a God). You must do so from race one and you must do so however ludicrous the situation. If you are a country mile ahead you will slow down. I know this makes a mockery of racing and will p!ss of the fans no end but thats the situation. But hey don't worry mate because we'll give you a new car!

[Denthúl]

Yeah, such gift should be for a champion - not just for Lewis if he makes it champion. While it is normal for every team boss to have his fav pilot, I'd like to see a bit more diplomacy there - I really don't like when RD so blatantly shows who is his boy. He should keep it more professional, in my opinion. Or at least keep quiet about such things. Even in Ferrari during Schumacher era, while we all did know who's the daddy (and who's making bigger bucks), I can't recall such tokens of personal preference from Todt or any other Ferrari exec.

Mmmm you might like to run that theory past Barichello et al. "Rubens mate.....a word about your position; whenever you get chance to hand over a potential win to Michael you must do so (after all he is a God). You must do so from race one and you must do so however ludicrous the situation. If you are a country mile ahead you will slow down. I know this makes a mockery of racing and will p!ss of the fans no end but thats the situation. But hey don't worry mate because we'll give you a new car!

Yeah. Thing is, I'm pretty sure that most of Schumacher's team-mates could have challenged him if they had been allowed to. Just look at what Irvine nearly did when MS was out with a broken leg!

[f1ea]

I don't see how Dennis offering or dealing a Mclaren supercar (assuming the story in question is accurate) in exchange for a WDC means Lewis / Dennis are doing something unprofessional. All drivers have a different $$ package, they have different salaries and ussually these include some varying benefits depending on performance, points won, podiums, whatever... many drivers make more and are offered more than their teammate, and no one says anything about it.

So, Are they equal at Mclaren?
Sometime during the season Heikki will probably answer this question, so far I see no reason to believe there is significant support toward Lewis, but there hasn't been the need to. So I guess we have to wait and see... Alonso complained, and so have others... but maybe Heikki doesn't even care what treatment he gets, maybe he doesn't need some subjective "team support" to win. Who knows.

[nikon133]

Yeah, such gift should be for a champion - not just for Lewis if he makes it champion. While it is normal for every team boss to have his fav pilot, I'd like to see a bit more diplomacy there - I really don't like when RD so blatantly shows who is his boy. He should keep it more professional, in my opinion. Or at least keep quiet about such things. Even in Ferrari during Schumacher era, while we all did know who's the daddy (and who's making bigger bucks), I can't recall such tokens of personal preference from Todt or any other Ferrari exec.

Mmmm you might like to run that theory past Barichello et al. "Rubens mate.....a word about your position; whenever you get chance to hand over a potential win to Michael you must do so (after all he is a God). You must do so from race one and you must do so however ludicrous the situation. If you are a country mile ahead you will slow down. I know this makes a mockery of racing and will p!ss of the fans no end but thats the situation. But hey don't worry mate because we'll give you a new car!

As I said, we all knew who was da man in Ferrari, yet we never heard Todt saying at the beginning of the championship anything like "If Michael wins this season, I'll give him new Enzo". Anyway, pointing out to Ferrari doesn't make any sense at all - simple fact that they did many things wrong doesn't really justify RD doing his kind of wrong. After all, we want him to better Ferrari people.

Plus, it simply is disrespectful toward the other driver. Not an act of giving LH that car if he wins, but the act of going with that in public at this point, so early in the championship and with both drivers being close with points and performance. It's like another darn Cinderella story or something, it's simply marking Heiki as underdog. And it does not work nice with the story about rebuilding Heiki's confidence and all that. What does he get if he wins championship in his 1st season in McLaren? Strawberry Chuppa-Chups?!

If I was RD and have made such a deal with one driver, I'd keep it quiet and wait for lad to win his championship, then dump car on him for winning. But I wouldn't make such a deal. I'd simply make car an extra motive for both drivers to fight for the crown - specially if one driver addressed me with his wish to get car. Winner gets the wheels. It should be that simple for the team that preaches equality; after all, Heiki's crown would worth much as Hamilton's... right?

[racechick]

DEAL WAS DONE LAST YEAR- HEIKKI NOT ON THE MCLAREN ORBIT THEN!!! Sorry about the large type but ive stated that loads of times

[nikon133]

DEAL WAS DONE LAST YEAR- HEIKKI NOT ON THE MCLAREN ORBIT THEN!!! Sorry about the large type but ive stated that loads of times

WELL IT DOESN'T MAKE DIFFERENCE - it is not like McLaren didn't know they'll have 2nd driver this year! Unless that car is specific part of his contract - which I think it is NOT - then it should be promised as winner's price - not as Hamilton's price!

You can care or not about it, but I don't like seeing RD behaving almost like a father to only one driver, whoever he is. He's got big fat contract. He's got advertising deals. What is the point of extra personal favors? What is the point of LH wanting some of his trophies in his home and McLaren responding to that - considering that - even if it was never done before? What is the point of one driver liking sports car and being promised one if he wins? To show us how special boy he is in Ron's eyes..?

Sorry but that kind of behavior is irritating me. I'm also sure some of that did trigger Alonso's rage. Having equal cars on the track is nice thing, but what happens outside the track matters as well.

bottom line - I don't want to see LH becoming new Schumacher - I'm talking about his privileges, not his wins. Hopefully McLaren Mercedes will have more balanced approach toward the drivers once RD retires. Difference in handling the drivers should end with their contracts - EVERYTHING else should be the same.

[racechick]

But contracts arent equal, when Lewis beat Alonso he was on a tenth his salary and that was when the deal was struck. Cant understand you getting so uptight over a lighthearted wager made nearly a year ago Get irate over something serious-like the corruption going on in the FIA which dishes out way way way more unfair treatment than a new car

[texasmr2]

But contracts arent equal, when Lewis beat Alonso he was on a tenth his salary and that was when the deal was struck. Cant understand you getting so uptight over a lighthearted wager made nearly a year ago Get irate over something serious-like the corruption going on in the FIA which dishes out way way way more unfair treatment than a new car

Yah what's up with that !

bottom line - I don't want to see LH becoming new Schumacher - I'm talking about his privileges, not his wins.

When you are the greatest F1 driver in history the previledge's allowed to MS were consistant with a team wanting to stay on top. BLAH BLAH BLAH about the "Oh Ruben's allowed him to pass for the win", it was to seal a championship and I would expect nothing less from any other team.

[racechick]

You dont need to do things like that to seal a championship early on in the season when you have the best car

[texasmr2]

You dont need to do things like that to seal a championship early on in the season when you have the best car

You are right as I completely missed the 2000-2005 season's so my outlook actually does not hold any weight as far as knowledge.

[bud]

WELL IT DOESN'T MAKE DIFFERENCE - it is not like McLaren didn't know they'll have 2nd driver this year! Unless that car is specific part of his contract - which I think it is NOT - then it should be promised as winner's price - not as Hamilton's price!

Listen to racechick youre reading way to much into this.

do you really think the ultimate prize of being champion isnt enough motivation for Lewis and Heikki?

[Mikep99]

WELL IT DOESN'T MAKE DIFFERENCE - it is not like McLaren didn't know they'll have 2nd driver this year! Unless that car is specific part of his contract - which I think it is NOT - then it should be promised as winner's price - not as Hamilton's price!

Listen to racechick youre reading way to much into this.

do you really think the ultimate prize of being champion isnt enough motivation for Lewis and Heikki?

Sorry but I would say nikon133 opinion sounds more to the true & is based on more of a balanced unbias view.

Just my opinion