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[texasmr2]

I think this is another set of clumsy comments from Ron Dennis, regardless of whether he was having a dig at Briatore or Kovalainen. That's twice in the space of a week. Dennis needs to watch what he is saying.

I agree. Even if RD was having a dig at Flavio his comment's can also be taken as a dig at Kovi, while maybe unententional, RD's comment's seem out of character. Now if we all take our perception of RD's comment's literaly it could also mean he chose Kovi because he would play a great 'second fiddle' to RD's 'golden child' Lewis? Which can also be viewed as the 'equal driver's' at McLaren is a farce and simply to appease McLaren's critic's?

[ArtHowe]

Now if we all take our perception of RD's comment's literaly it could also mean he chose Kovi because he would play a great 'second fiddle' to RD's 'golden child' Lewis? Which can also be viewed as the 'equal driver's' at McLaren is a farce and simply to appease McLaren's critic's?

That's Bull Sh*t texasmr2. RD wouldn't choose a driver to be "second fiddle", he chooses the driver who, out of those available, can win maximum points in a given season for the team or who can best show promise for the future. Heikki's recent performance so far completely vindicates his choice and Ron is well known for his policy of not having a pecking order in his team. Get with the program texasmr2!

[McLaren Fan]

McLaren always go for the two best drivers they can lay hands on. I don't think there is a problem that way at McLaren. My gripe is that Ron Dennis has put his foot in it twice in the space of a week, which is the reason debates like this have sprung up. If McLaren wanted to have somebody to play second-fiddler to Hamilton, why did they headhunt Vettel and Rosberg and possibly Kubica? They are certainly not tea boys for anybody. If McLaren wanted to get a de facto one-two system, they would have got in somebody like Massa. Kovalainen did a good job in a difficult car last season and showed he has a lot of potential, all of which he has so far shown at McLaren.

[racechick]

If they'd wanted a de facto number two they would just have put pedro in!

[texasmr2]

That's Bull Sh*t texasmr2. RD wouldn't choose a driver to be "second fiddle", he chooses the driver who, out of those available, can win maximum points in a given season for the team or who can best show promise for the future. Heikki's recent performance so far completely vindicates his choice and Ron is well known for his policy of not having a pecking order in his team. Get with the program texasmr2!

Yah whatever dude ! Dont fall off your high horse and break your typing finger's !

[bud]

Yeah Rosberg and Vettel were the first choices were they to play second fiddle for the "golden child" tex?
they got Heikki because he has talent and is fast simple.

[nikon133]

F1Live: McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen has taken issue with team boss Ron Dennis' recent claim that he was "taken apart" by the Renault team as he tackled his rookie season in 2007.

Dennis said last month that his Mercedes-powered outfit can take the credit for rebuilding the 26-year-old Finn.

"Heikki is a guy who was systematically taken apart last year and we have systematically put him back together again," Dennis, whose relationship with Renault boss Flavio Briatore is famed for its acrimony, said at Sepang.

But Kovalainen said in Bahrain that he thought Dennis had exaggerated.

"I felt I did some very good races last year and unfortunately some people just don't see that," Kovalainen said.
"I never had any doubts about myself. I don't think I was broken or destroyed at any point. I had all the support at Renault, and I feel the same here."

Dennis meanwhile confirmed that Hamilton's practice crash this afternoon was down to driver error.

I (also?) feel RD has started loosing his compass since Lewis joined McLaren. Or maybe it's just an age surfacing up.

If he really wants to walk down that path, he should hire decent Public Relations pro.

[McLaren Fan]

F1Live: McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen has taken issue with team boss Ron Dennis' recent claim that he was "taken apart" by the Renault team as he tackled his rookie season in 2007.

Dennis said last month that his Mercedes-powered outfit can take the credit for rebuilding the 26-year-old Finn.

"Heikki is a guy who was systematically taken apart last year and we have systematically put him back together again," Dennis, whose relationship with Renault boss Flavio Briatore is famed for its acrimony, said at Sepang.

But Kovalainen said in Bahrain that he thought Dennis had exaggerated.

"I felt I did some very good races last year and unfortunately some people just don't see that," Kovalainen said.
"I never had any doubts about myself. I don't think I was broken or destroyed at any point. I had all the support at Renault, and I feel the same here."

Dennis meanwhile confirmed that Hamilton's practice crash this afternoon was down to driver error.

I (also?) feel RD has started loosing his compass since Lewis joined McLaren. Or maybe it's just an age surfacing up.

If he really wants to walk down that path, he should hire decent Public Relations pro.

I'm beginning to agree. That clumsy remark over the radio last season, those, well, offensive remarks about how Kovalainen did last season, and going public about offering Hamilton the car are things Dennis would not have said before Hamilton arrived. I can appreciate why he's saying them, that the media have probably selected a few juicy parts of what was said and, therefore, what Dennis means has been distorted, but he really has to get back to the old days of Ron speak. Some have criticised it, but it meant McLaren were a professional outfit and what was happening in the team stayed in the team.

[texasmr2]

Yeah Rosberg and Vettel were the first choices were they to play second fiddle for the "golden child" tex?

Yes in a sense because RD has been personaly vested in Lewis for year's guiding and mentoring him which is awesome but he did not do that just so Lewis could play the 'second fiddle' driver? RD saw the talent in Lewis that he could or will be a WDC winner someday while at the same time keeping McLaren as a frontrunning team. Concerning Heikki RD could not have made a better choice because he is fast, has alot of talent and true potential yet is very affable and get's along with everyone, it is imho a 'match made in F1 heaven' .

They got Heikki because he has talent and is fast simple.

I totally agree with that.

[McLaren Fan]

Yeah Rosberg and Vettel were the first choices were they to play second fiddle for the "golden child" tex?

Yes in a sense because RD has been personaly vested in Lewis for year's guiding and mentoring him which is awesome but he did not do that just so Lewis could play the 'second fiddle' driver

That, I'm afraid, is not a corollary. Just because Vettel or Rosberg were drafted into McLaren does not mean Hamilton would become their tea-boy.

[texasmr2]

Yeah Rosberg and Vettel were the first choices were they to play second fiddle for the "golden child" tex?

Yes in a sense because RD has been personaly vested in Lewis for year's guiding and mentoring him which is awesome but he did not do that just so Lewis could play the 'second fiddle' driver

That, I'm afraid, is not a corollary. Just because Vettel or Rosberg were drafted into McLaren does not mean Hamilton would become their tea-boy.

That's not what I meant and appologize if my meaning got jumbled.