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[deMuRe]

Anyone ever consider the possible flipside to this coin?

Alonso getting shafted by Ron, not being told when he was signing for McLaren a fast brit was joining the team.

Some drivers need number 1 status to support their ego. It's just a style of working. Schumi needed it, look how successful he was.

[McLaren Fan]

Anyone ever consider the possible flipside to this coin?

Alonso getting shafted by Ron, not being told when he was signing for McLaren a fast brit was joining the team.

How were McLaren to know how quick Hamilton was? A lot of drivers in GP2 etc. have done well but aren't the same in Formula One. Liuzzi, If I remember correctly, was a little bit like that. And, even if Dennis did know Hamilton was fast, what's that got to do with Alonso? Are McLaren only allowed to sign average drivers or people who are prepared to support Alonso for his sake?

At McLaren both drivers have always been allowed to race and McLaren have always sought to get the best drivers they can. There may be flaws with that policy - we've seen them slightly between Lauda and Prost, certainly under Prost and Senna, and now between Alonso and Hamilton - but that's the way McLaren have always worked, certainly since Dennis took over the team in 1980. Alonso really should have know that.

Alonso hasn't got so much of an ego problem, in my view at least. He has always been huffy and poor under pressure. We saw this last year at Renault, where he was adored, when things were getting the better of him, and we are seeing it again this season.

Alonso is an intelligent and experienced driver, and fearless overtaker in a good car and is fast enough to win championships, even though he may not be quicker than Hamilton or Raikkonen et al. It's about time he grew up, got his head in gear and used his advantages over the rest of the grid rather than crying like a baby and chucking his toys from the pram.

[racechick]

Anyone ever consider the possible flipside to this coin?

Alonso getting shafted by Ron, not being told when he was signing for McLaren a fast brit was joining the team.

Some drivers need number 1 status to support their ego. It's just a style of working. Schumi needed it, look how successful he was.

YOU MEAN HE NEEDED AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO ENABLE HIM TO WIN ???? AS DOES ALONSO!! iF THEY ARE THAT GOOD THEY SHOULD DO IT ON THEIR OWN

[deMuRe]

Anyone ever consider the possible flipside to this coin?

Alonso getting shafted by Ron, not being told when he was signing for McLaren a fast brit was joining the team.

How were McLaren to know how quick Hamilton was? A lot of drivers in GP2 etc. have done well but aren't the same in Formula One. Liuzzi, If I remember correctly, was a little bit like that. And, even if Dennis did know Hamilton was fast, what's that got to do with Alonso? Are McLaren only allowed to sign average drivers or people who are prepared to support Alonso for his sake?

At McLaren both drivers have always been allowed to race and McLaren have always sought to get the best drivers they can. There may be flaws with that policy - we've seen them slightly between Lauda and Prost, certainly under Prost and Senna, and now between Alonso and Hamilton - but that's the way McLaren have always worked, certainly since Dennis took over the team in 1980. Alonso really should have know that.

Alonso hasn't got so much of an ego problem, in my view at least. He has always been huffy and poor under pressure. We saw this last year at Renault, where he was adored, when things were getting the better of him, and we are seeing it again this season.

Alonso is an intelligent and experienced driver, and fearless overtaker in a good car and is fast enough to win championships, even though he may not be quicker than Hamilton or Raikkonen et al. It's about time he grew up, got his head in gear and used his advantages over the rest of the grid rather than crying like a baby and chucking his toys from the pram.

McLaren haven't ALWAYS worked that way, Mika had number one status over DC.

You don't have to have a problem to want number 1 status in a team. It's only natural the fastest driver has the biggest ego. Schumacher's ego needed it's own post code. To have the kind of self belief you need to be a multiple world champion you have to have an ego of some sort.

[deMuRe]

Anyone ever consider the possible flipside to this coin?

Alonso getting shafted by Ron, not being told when he was signing for McLaren a fast brit was joining the team.

Some drivers need number 1 status to support their ego. It's just a style of working. Schumi needed it, look how successful he was.

YOU MEAN HE NEEDED AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE TO ENABLE HIM TO WIN ???? AS DOES ALONSO!! iF THEY ARE THAT GOOD THEY SHOULD DO IT ON THEIR OWN

It's not an unfair advantage, it's a way of working. It gives structure and organisation and allows a team to focus on one person.

Ferrari would never have put so much effort into Schumacher if they didn't think he would deliver the results.

He approached them and said "This is how I work, I want the team to be built around me." They gave him free reign and look what happened, Ferrari had their most successful period in history.

Oh, and I garantee you Schumacher was the envy of every driver in the pit lane. JV thought he had the minerals and wanted the same thing at BAR, but he was no Schumacher and the results reflected that.

[racechick]

I follow your logic and agree that Schumacher was a very good driver who helped Ferrari back to winning. Afraid I dont agree with the rest tho. Schumacher raced at a time when the opposition was not so strong. Prost finished and Senna unfortunately dead(MS would never have had all those chanpionships if he'd lived). Then there was Mikka(brill driver) and Kimmi and Juan(brill drivers who were allowed to race). Add to that he most often had the best car and a mediocre team mate who wasnt allowed to race him and had to protect him. Thats not racing thats showcasing. Anyone of 6 or so current racers could be mutiple world champions given those conditions (and thats not to mention help from the FIA and getting away with dirty driving)., No doubt he was good, But outstandin?? Well we'll never know because he wouldn't fight on a level playing field

[deMuRe]

That's one way of looking at it.

Another way of looking at is no other driver had the chance to gain any momentum whilst Schumacher was around.

There might have been another Prost or Senna had Schumacher not been around.

[racechick]

Apart from Kimmi and Alonso (who did gain momentum) i cant think of any young talent that came along. There are a host of promising youngsters now

[deMuRe]

When Schumacher was in his prime a rookie didn't even have a chance. The teams had to stick to what they knew, these corporations look at it from a risk management point of view, experienced drivers were the best way to minimize risk.

Now he's gone teams can afford to gamble, nobody is winning most of the races for the season anymore.

You are actually supporting my argument with your responses racechick. Isn't it funny how Schumacher has left the scene and all these new faces are emerging...

[McLaren Fan]

You don't have to have a problem to want number 1 status in a team. It's only natural the fastest driver has the biggest ego. Schumacher's ego needed it's own post code. To have the kind of self belief you need to be a multiple world champion you have to have an ego of some sort.

Well, Alonso isn't actually the fastest driver and I'm not saying he has a problem for wanting to be number one in the team, however, his prima donna attitude and remarks are pathetic.

Isn't it funny how Schumacher has left the scene and all these new faces are emerging...

Not really. People saw the potential Raikkonen, Alonso, Kubica, Hamilton, Sutil, Rosberg, Webber et al. had a long time ago. The fact is there are so few quality teams and anybody at Ferrari would be allowed to challenge Schumacher. It's not a case of Schumacher was so great that only now he's gone can people challenge.

[deMuRe]

Agreed, but nobody is dominating the sport anymore the way Schumacher did, which is allowing the other drivers a greater share of the limelight...

[7UpJordan]

That's one way of looking at it.

Another way of looking at is no other driver had the chance to gain any momentum whilst Schumacher was around.

There might have been another Prost or Senna had Schumacher not been around.

What about Erik Comas and Jan Magnussen? They were tipped for great success.