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[racechick]

This is an F1 'what if' thread. A 'what if' scenario is posed and we discuss what might have happened next. Once discussion dries up, then someone else poses a new 'what if'?

But remember boys and girls it's not real. So don't get uppity if someone disagrees with your view. This is 'Let's pretend' , three year olds can do it, so we ought to manage it.

Here's the first 'What if?' ........

The year is 2012. The place is McLaren Technology centre. Ron Dennis, having harboured growing concerns about the way McLaren was heading has wrested back power. He strides in and issues Whitmarsh with his marching orders. He then gathers round his engineers and says " Right chaps, we have a championship to win. Sort out the reliability, stop making the car more drive able, make it fast. Of you go". Rubbing his hands in glee, Paddy Lowe skuttles off to do just that. And he does. Lewis has no more reliability issues, he has the team behind him and he wins the championship.
On the back of that success both Lewis and Paddy remain at McLaren for the 2013 season. The car is not scrapped in favour of a slower one that's easier to drive.
At the start of the 2013 season we have a fast McLaren with a Merc engine and Lewis piloting. We have red bull and Ferrari headed by Vettel and Alonso, and we have the mighty Mercs with Rosberg and ?

First question: Who would be driving the second Merc? Michael? Not Alonso or Vettel because their car in 2012 was fighting for the championship. So who?

Second question: who would accompany Lewis at McLaren? button? Mags? Someone else?

Third question: how would the 2013 and 2014 seasons pan out?

[What's Burning?]

Grrr... can't answer because I've got to get some work done. I've procrastinated enough. But I have lots of ideas popping into my head about the response.

Good, albeit a little out there thread topic. mnmracer would live here and add stats to his alternate reality theories.

[CookinFlat6]

Very interesting exercise that stimulates creative, holistic and extensive understanding of F1

For me, MS would have stayed at Merc for 2013 with Nico - There was no other driver with the profile needed to unlock the Daimler chequebook
Lewis at a Ron led Mclaren, with a Lewis inspired Paddy evolved MP28, with all the blunders made by the previous management in 2012 removed (say like 2014) - then I think Lewis would have won the 2013 WDC. So thats 3 WDCs for Lewis, and then Niki poaches him to replace MS by coming to his hotel room at Abu Dhabi and sells the hybrid+factory integration over the hybrid+soon departing customer integration.
Lewis joins Merc 2014 - merc make him the number one to protect the high price they had to pay to prevent Honda having a say - Lewis wins the 2014 WDC by Singapore

The only question left is who would be paired with Lewis at Mclaren in 2013 and 2014? Button would obviously be history at the end of 2012 as Ron doesnt have any respect for his ability, Perez would not have been taken either, Mags had not become ready, maybe Van Dorne would have been a typical Ron surprise move. So its possible 2013 could have been Stoifel to be replaced by Mag or retained for 2014.

[Jabberwocky]

I think the Hulk would of been in the Merc.

Would Ron of got Kimi back? How amicable was their split before?

[CookinFlat6]

I think the Hulk would of been in the Merc.

Would Ron of got Kimi back? How amicable was their split before?

less amicable than with Lewis but more than with Alonso

But we are waiting for your answers to the other 2 questions

[Ferrari man 009]

First question: Who would be driving the second Merc? Michael? Not Alonso or Vettel because their car in 2012 was fighting for the championship. So who?

Second question: who would accompany Lewis at McLaren? button? Mags? Someone else?

Third question: how would the 2013 and 2014 seasons pan out?

1. Schumacher

2. Button

3. Hamilton and Vettel would go head to head for the title, backed up by Button and Webber respectively. Alonso would challenge but his car would not be good enough. Mercedes show that they have a good car and prospects for 2014 so after an argument Alonso leaves Ferrari for 2014 and joins Mercedes as Schumacher announces his retirement. Vettel wins the title thanks to another Newey aerodynamic upgrade mid season and wins the title with a race to spare. In Brazil, Schumacher takes advantage of a safety car situation to win in his final race in F1 and to celebrate, rather than going skiing at Christmas Schumacher goes to the beach on holiday and avoiding the horrific accident that would have happened had he gone skiing .

In 2014, Alonso and Mercedes blitz the field while Hamilton and McLaren get frustrated by being Mercedes customers and sign a deal with Honda. Ferrari sign Hulkenburg to join Raikkonen at Ferrari and the German shows his skills by winning 2 races despite driving an inferior car.

[Jabberwocky]

I think the Hulk would of been in the Merc.

Would Ron of got Kimi back? How amicable was their split before?

less amicable than with Lewis but more than with Alonso

But we are waiting for your answers to the other 2 questions

Merc would be team Nico ' s
Mclaren would be Lewis and Kmag
2013, Vettel was unstoppable.
2014, Ross did what he said he would do. Just like he did in 09. Let's face it any 2 drivers on the grid could of won the WCC this year in the Mercedes they have had that much advantage.

[CookinFlat6]

Hopefully without sidetracking this thread, I thought posting this Alonso comment from 2007 would help to understand what 2012 with Ron in charge, no engineers trying to make Jenson faster and no sloppy pitstops etc could have been like

(Reuters) - World champion Fernando Alonso has criticized his McLaren team and boss Ron Dennis for they way he has been treated since joining the Formula One outfit this season.

The Spaniard said he was disappointed at the scandals that had engulfed the team and what he saw as preferential treatment for British team mate Lewis Hamilton.

"I expected a lot more, we all expected a lot more," Alonso was quoted as saying by the Spanish media following Saturday's final qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

"From outside the team, I had a different image -- serious and very professional. I came here after winning two world championships and I improved the car all I could.

"Last year they were battling away to make it into Q3 (qualifying session) and this year they are going to win the title. The truth is the treatment I've received hasn't been very good."

Alonso made it clear he felt the team and Dennis in particular were favoring Hamilton.

"We all know how the team celebrates the victory of one team member and the other," he said.

"And when you hear the declarations of your boss saying that he feels a paternal sentiment for one of your team mates and rivals, then you know that you can never have much trust in what that person will do."

WORTHY CHAMPIONS

"I've spoken to (David) Coulthard, (Juan Pablo) Montoya, Kimi (Raikkonen) and all those who have left the team and they have been much happier for it. There must be a reason for that."

Alonso hinted that he was unlikely to remain at McLaren next season.

"From what they've said and done it doesn't look as though they are very keen and that they've got enough with one of the two drivers that are here and I've no problem with that. There are another 10 or so teams that are interested in me."

Despite his complaints Alonso said Hamilton would be a worthy champion if he won the title.

"He will deserve it if he wins the title," he said. "You have to be realistic and totally sporting. I think you have to know how to win and how to lose. If I don't win this year it's because someone has scored more points than me, and if that's the case it's because he has done a better job."

Alonso qualified a disappointing fourth while Hamilton, who needs to finish ahead of his team mate and Ferrari driver Raikkonen to wrap up the title, starts on pole in Sunday's race.

[Jabberwocky]

What if Ron has done a deal with Lewis for 2017. Part of the deal is that Ron holds off announcing his drivers until Lewis has a deal with Mercedes. Otherwise Mercedes has the leverage to do a Frank Williams and pay Lewis less as he would have no where else to go.

[LH44]

Erm what if Hamilton had suffered the mechanical fault yesterday and Rosberg had won the race.

[CookinFlat6]

Erm what if Hamilton had suffered the mechanical fault yesterday and Rosberg had won the race.

http://www.forumula1.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=13671&start=68 was never ever gonna happen despite the public opinion pointing to a 10% chance

[racechick]

Erm what if Hamilton had suffered the mechanical fault yesterday and Rosberg had won the race.

That's why I spent much of yesterday behind the sofa.

[Hammer278]

Erm what if Hamilton had suffered the mechanical fault yesterday and Rosberg had won the race.

That's why I spent much of yesterday behind the sofa.

I started breathing normally after Rosberg got the ERS failure lol

[racechick]

Erm what if Hamilton had suffered the mechanical fault yesterday and Rosberg had won the race.

That's why I spent much of yesterday behind the sofa.

I started breathing normally after Rosberg got the ERS failure lol

My fist slight relaxing of the breathing and slowing of the heartbeat came after Lewis mega start. Did you not hear me screaming??

[Hammer278]

I didn't much care about the start when it happened, all I wanted was an intact car finishing at least 2nd. But he decided to go one better.