Firstly, welcome Max, nice to see another face around here. I'd personally like to see Massa stay and start to really push Alonso as the season goes on. I think he's finally beginning to get his head back together, and beginning to show some of the form that nearly won him the championship. I'd also love him to put Ferrari in the situation where they can't logically back Alonso, and they have to treat them equally, or even favour Massa. As for replacements, I think the Sauber drivers seem like a good shout, or at a long shot, Heidfeld? It seems unlikely, but he's only just behind Massa in the championship so far, and I'd argue the Ferrari is more competitive than the Renault, and Heidfeld looks set to be out of a drive by the end of the season. I think the problem Nico Rosberg faces, is that the number one drivers in the top teams are all quiet young. Alonso is the oldest, and we're still talking about him having a futher 5 seasons in the sport. Realistically, Hamilton and Vettel are going nowhere, when Kubica returns I'd expect him to slot back in at Renault, and Nico's already in the next fastest car. Webber is probably the next to retire (of the top teams), but entering a team built around Vettel is probably worse than a team built around Schumacher - because he knows he can beat Schumacher! I think he'll struggle to break through at mercedes (based on current performance) and going to Ferrari or Red Bull might not be the best career move. Catch-22 somewhat isn't it?
Bet you vettel will be a mercedes driver when schumi does retire. Ferrari's are wanted by all drivers on the grid but a Germans dream is to drive a silver arrow. For me it will just be porno, favorite driver and favorite team, hopefully newey as well as Ross brawn. Fangio era mark 2 commence....
Thanks, DH. I agree entirely and didn't mention Rosberg as a replacement for those reasons. I'm getting the feeling that Hamilton would like Rosberg at McLaren, actually but Button seems pretty settled there (as well as being a bit popular with the boss, so they say!) A bit of a Catch-22 for Nico, as you say. I don't see Rosberg at Ferrari but that's a gut thing, nothing logical.
By the looks of things, Ferrari are saying that each driver should do their best, and try to finish as high as possible. However, if Alonso comes up behind Massa, Massa should let him past; he has a greater chance of winning the WDC and there would be no point in creating an accident whilst overtaking. This seems to be the best way to do things.
At the risk of taking this off topic, I have to say that I don't agree with your analogy. Yes, players are subbed for the good of the team in football. However, unlike F1, football does not have a separate championship for individuals as well as a team championship. If F1 is a "Team Sport and not individual" then why bother having a Drivers Championship at all? The winner of the WDC always sticks in the mind more than a WCC. When people think of Rubens Barichello, they don't think "he's the guy who won the WCC with Ferrari 5 times". They think "He's the guy who who had to play 2nd fiddle to Michael Schumacher in the WDC because of team orders for 5 years". Any way, getting back on topic, I'd agree that this is the best move for Alonso at the current time. As has already been mentioned, he has the obvious strong support from a team built around him and knows that he will always be close to the sharp end of the grid. I wonder though, much like with Hamilton, if Red Bull keep winning will he put out some feelers for the future? If I had to put a bet on to who would be his partner once Massa is shown the door, I'd probably have to go with Rosberg. Not sure why, I'd guess because his time with Mercedes hasn't proven to be much better than when he was at Williams and he'll be looking to advance his career soon, lest he become a driver in his 30's who never made it into a top team.
These long-term contracts are unusual - Alonso/Ferrari until 2016, Vettel/Red Bull until 2014, McLaren and Button have already intimated they'd both like to see Button stay there until he retires. Will we see McLaren extend Hamilton's contract? Does this strengthen the (under)hand the big four teams might play regarding a breakaway series in Concorde renewal discussions? If it does, how confident can Alonso and Vettel, potentially Button and Hamilton, too, be that they'll be racing in the championship they want to be racing in in 2013? Some response to Alonso's contract announcement: Or just read James Allen.
Its basically Ferrari ensuring they have a bargaining chip in any breakaway negotiations. a la Vettel with Red Bull. Where did the rumour of the McLaren pair being offered long-term deals come from? I think the major teams are saying ' we have the top drivers , you deal with us, else you have nothing!'
Tip-off: Banco Santander is about to extend its sponsorship of Ferrari until 2016. It is rumored 240 million Euros for the period 2013-2016.
Thanks, once again, Forza early heads up. Button and Whitmarsh were loved up at the end of April. I am merely surmising re Hamilton.
Mclaren must be pretty pleased with Alonso and Vettel signing new long term contracts because it strengthens their hand when it comes to negotiating with Hamilton because he does not really have much leverage now Ferrari and Red Bull and realistically not an option.
Yeah-ish... I think it's unlikely that Ferrari would want him to partner Alonso but not impossible. Red Bull are another matter. They might welcome two of the top three drivers (or whatever - let's not argue about 'oo killed 'oo) to wrap up the WCC before a season even begins. And that doesn't take into account what might or might not happen in the future. In any event, McLaren will probably offer Hamilton whatever they need to to make him happy and I'd be surprised if he wanted to screw them for the sake of money. It's a good point but I don't think it's a big deal.
I am sure Hamilton will get a good deal but it will be what Mclaren value Hamilton at and the minimum they can get away with without Hamilton getting upset, if Hamilton had other viable options he could strong arm Mclaren into an even better deal. I do not think Red Bull will want Hamilton because it risks upsetting the team and I think they will want to promote their own rather that hiring from outside, I exect Buemi or Ricciardo to fill Webber's seat after he retires.
I'm sure there is some accidental irony in this comment. Firstly, I agree with you, jerseymackem; that it goes against the Ferrari ethos to "go to a fully equal system", as you say. But oddly enough, the biggest factor in this reasoning is that they see the World Drivers' Championship as being more important than the Constructors'! - - I'd also like to extend a welcome to Max Whiplash. What a great name!
The Hamilton lifetime contract offer was reported in the press a month or so ago, quoting Whitmarsh. Cheers for the welcome, cosicave. I remember you from the BBC606, who failed my name! Then later decided it was ok so I wasn't always Max Whiplash. It's been my first day here and I have to say I'm impressed. So many people say welcome! I don't remember that when I joined the BBC; shot down in flames was more like it! But yeah, this place seems exactly what I was looking for; very glad I joined.
yeah yeah! was on a few other f1 sites. It wasn't really for life, more like a 10 year contract. "life"
I don't think it actually says a ten-year contract. It just says a contract renewal beyond 2012. Whitmarsh describes McLaren's racing pedigree in terms of trying to win championships in ten years' time rather than trying to sell consumer goods.
