450SEL6.9

Next year we will really see how valuable Alonso's input is. Mclaren resurged after Alonso joined the team and did not have a mechanical DNF. If they go into decline next year, it could cement Alonso's reputation as one of the greatest car developers ever.

I still want to see Alonso in a Ferrari, even if it mean sacrificing Kimi.

Would Bernie allow Alonso to meander with a mid-field team? He and Hamilton going at each other is good for ratings. If I'm Bernie, I'd make sure Alonso can go wherever he wants.

coolraoul

Hamilton is really a cash-cow, he is the star of the F1 now. So young, so cute, so fast...

If McLaren fails next year, it won't be cause they don't have Alonso any more.
Some will say, see, even Mc can't handle a 100 million $ fine.
Others (Ferrari fans) will say, see, without spy material they can do nothing.

I am for the first proposal, their budget will be significantly smaller then it used to be...So as their place at the end of the paddock...It will be a challenge for them, a difficult one. But they will have the rage.

In fact, nobody really cares from Alonso, he deceived eveybody by beeing beaten fairly by a rookie and by bitching the team.

He sure is a great driver, so the teams want him, but he is not the fastest, and he sure is no more the star.

Matt530i

Hamilton has benefited from starting his career in a competitive car. If he were to have started for any team other than McLaren/Ferrari I doubt that anyone would be talking about him as THE next star of F1. He'd be lumped in there with Kubica and Kovalainen as raising stars of F1.

Next year will tell the story. If McLaren falls back and he's locked into a long term contract he's not going to be a star for long.

Anna Kournikova, who is better known for her looks than her tennis skills, is a good comparison. But Hamilton being a guy isn't going to get the same following if he doesn't win.

coolraoul

Keep in mind that he reduced a 2-times Worldchampion to a second-driver.
He has beaten him regularly, and fairly. It is not given to anybody.
That makes him quite different from Kubica.

Sure he benefitted from the competitive car. But he had the world's better driver for teammate and managed to finish very often before him Kournikova did not do that I think (does she has her license? )

Centurion

So what if Hamilton had a good car? He took full advantage of it and used its every potential. Mclaren could IMO not have chosen a better driver than Hamilton this season.

There is no mystery why Santanders and MM have interest in Hamilton. He gets lots of exposure, especially in the heavily populated country of the UK. It would very very unwise of them to end their Mclaren sponsorship.

Sponsoring = exposure of brand = Hamilton

siko

I doubt this is true but...





Alonso can switch to privateer only
Mclaren veto Alonso choices

Nov.1 (GMM) Ron Dennis will only agree to release Fernando Alonso from his 2008 contract if the Spaniard switches to a privateer rival next year, according to reports.

Following the first meeting on Wednesday between McLaren figures and representatives for Alonso, the Spanish newspaper Diario As has put Red Bull and Williams at the top of the list to receive the 26-year-old former double world champion next year.

More talks with McLaren are expected in the coming days, but the 'As' report would explain why speculation of moves to carmaker backed outfits including Renault, Ferrari, Toyota and Honda has recently gone cold.

Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad, who was in England this week, played down links with other teams whilst talking to the British newspaper The Guardian on Wednesday.

"If that's what people are saying then they know more than me," he said.

The whispers nonetheless continued unabated, with Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport spouting the latest theory that a move to Red Bull for Alonso might also entice Ross Brawn to abandon his planned return to Ferrari in favour of the energy drink-owned ranks.

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Poverty

Alonso this alonso that. Kimi has always been faster than him.

Kimi and hamiliton are the fastest drivers in F1.

450SEL6.9

I think IE meant to say that the sponsors have no interest in Hamy whatsoever and hence they will bolt and follow Alonso.

Even if I agree that they are the fastest in F1 (which I'm not sure I do), I don't think that says too much. Personally I think the "fastest driver" label is very overrated. Nigel Mansell, Gilles Villeneuve, John Watson among others were labeled fast and fearless drivers. How many titles have they won? I would much rather have a fast driver that is very technical and can improve the car. Those guys make multiple time WDCs.

Alain Prost is certainly not considered the fastest driver in his era, but he was the most successful. He won with consistency, guile and strategy, but was said to be slower than Senna, who was perhaps the fastest ever in F1, but Senna never beat Prost on points in the same car! You can easily argue that Prost > Senna!

Senna won the WDC in '88, but Prost scored more points than him. The points system, which counted only 11 of the races, meant that Senna won the title. Same thing happened in 1989, but Prost did take the title that year. Prost raced with another fast driver in 1990, Mansell, and Prost destroyed him too. Fastest driver doesn't mean that much because the goal is to win races and titles, so I think Prost is prime example. He would have broken the Fangio WDC record before Schu.

S'Pimp

..... Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad told Spanish media the Formula One driver was "free to sign for any team next season" and there will be no shortage of offers for the 26-year-old Spaniard.

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Centurion

What hasn't been discussed is who will be filling Alonso's seat at Mclaren. I would love to see Nico drive for Mclaren but he's pretty tight with Hamilton and would most likely rather stay at Williams.

Pedro.D.Rosa would be suitable as a second driver since that might prevent the Spanish sponsors from breaking up with Mclaren.

I have seen Kovaleinen's name here and there but I'm not convinced. I have yet to see his hunger. Hamilton needs someone who's not afraid of going 110% and can help him at the top.