"I give up". This is a phrase that before this year's Korean Grand Prix had never been associated with Fernando Alonso. It was always Fernando the fighter (think of his bid to win the title in 2010) and Fernando that would never stop chasing impossible situations. So for Alonso to make a comment like this is virtually unheard of. Yes, he was undoubtedly frustrated at not being able to get right up behind Jenson Button's McLaren, but we do have to question why this comment was made. On the surface Fernando seems happy and settled at Ferrari. He has pledged his future until 2016 at the team with a multi-season deal and seems to consider the Maranello as his family. Yet something caused this frustration to boil over in Korea, hence the outburst. Was it that the team didn't move Felipe Massa out of the way- after all with the exception of Lewis Hamilton, Alonso has never had a teammate of equal talent and equal status (even in his debut season at Minardi, his teammate was hopeless pay driver Alex Yoong)? Or is the source of Alonso's annoyance something much deeper? Could it be that Alonso is fed up with trying to wrestle a less than perfect car around the corners? After all since his departure from McLaren he's never really had a machine of title-winning capabilities. Therefore is his frustration centred around Ferrair's inability to provide him with a car that can bring the level of success that Schumacher enjoyed for all those years? It's an interesting thought, and could mean that Alonso is starting to regret some of the decisons he made several years ago. After winning the title with Renault in 2005, Fernnado made a surprise announcement of his decision to join McLaren for 2007. This was probably based on McLaren's improved '05 performance whilst the other 'big' team Ferrari had a truly miserable season. But in fact, with Michael Schumacher's retirement, Alonso would've probably been better off joining the Prancing Horse. In 2007 Raikkonen rather fortunately won the title, whilst in 2008 the Ferrari was quite possibly the best car but Massa couldn't quite claim the title. So is this the origin of Alonso's anger? Is it possible that the man widely regarded as the best of the current crop of drivers is regretting some of the decisions he made whilst in his title-winning prime, that have prevented him having another proper shot at the crown? It's just a theory, but only one person truly knows the answer.
I think the comments he made i Korea were a little bit of gamesmanship. He spoke in English to an Italian when he himself speaks Italian. It was meant to be broadcast so McLaren could hear it and inform JB that Alonso was backing off. After all Alonso still kept pushing. I don't think he has joined at the wrong time. Alonso has said his career wouldn't be complete unless he had driven at Ferrari. The only better choice would have been staying at McLaren or having a leap of faith and joining an under performing Red Bull at the time. Schumacher joined Ferrari when it was in a similar state and they came good with him eventually.
Similar thread the to the Schumacher lost titles. On paper, yes, but in reality no. I dont see that Alonso had much choice, Kimi had already signed as season in advance of his Mclaren contract expiring and after his title tilts in an unreliable Mclaren was considered the fastest thing on 4 wheels - and to be fair - probably was. I dont think Ferrari was ever an option for Alonso at that point, and regardless of where you stand on Mclarengate (2007), and driver in Alonso's position would have taken the Mclaren drive with a rookie in the sister car. I think Alonso's biggest mistake (IMO) was playing into the hands of Ron and getting into all the politics - if he had stayed calm he would have won the championship in 2007 and who knows in 2008? Would Lewis have become the WDC and would he have remained at Mclaren or then gone to Ferrari?
But for an error in judgement by Ferrari last year in Abu Dhabi, Alonso would have won his 3rd WDC and we wouldn't be having this conversation. Such is the way of F1. If, but, maybe....etc
There is no "wrong" time to join a team, they are still in the top 3 anyway... also you don't have to join a team that is already winning. It is much sweeter to join a progressing team before they reach the top.
No is the answer. If he had joined in 2007 he wouldnt have got the title, as Mclaren had the best car, and if LH had that to himself (and probably delarosa) he would have won. But he probably would have won in '08, seeing current performances against Massa. I think he joined at the right time, and this time next year, i think he will be close to his 3rd world championship.
He drives for the most successful F1 team and has had two years without title success, so I think there will definitely be some level of frustration, but I don't think it will affect him much. Unlike other top drivers, Alonso can handle a poorly balanced non-competitive car without letting his frustrations get the better of him and he often achieves results that on paper would seem too ambitious. I'm sure he regrets going to McLaren, and looking back now it's obvious that Alonso was the ideal replacement for Schuamcher. However, Todt was never going to sign Alonso after he rejected a test driver role in 2002 and chose Renault instead. It came to the point where despite Todt believing that Kimi and Alonso were equal as drivers, he didn't even contact Alonso about 2007 because he "thought that Kimi fit better with Ferrari and with me.â Alonso went to Ferrari as soon as the option became realistic. He hasn't won a championship with the team yet, but he came very close last year and big changes have been made to ensure the problems holding them back this year won't affect them next year.
I think it is far too easy to take a morsel such as "I give up" - when spoken during a race - and make an awful lot of conjecture. As Smithers says, this thread has much of the flavour of others which include similar spurious ingredients; and reflecting historic career moves with 'ifs' and 'buts' will never resolve an imagined puzzle. Still, I acknowledge that some will enjoy what I see as pointless. (And no doubt it can also be said that I enjoy competition - which others find pointless).
I understand your point, I just thought it was a most unusual thing for a fighter like Alonso to say, but then as suggested earlier it could have been just gamesmanship.
It wasn't even gamesmanship, I often say 'I give up' when I don't mean it, it's just an expression of frustration
Fumes for fuel... tyres half buggered, a lap left to go and Button seemingly able to hold him. Think I'd throw in the towel too.
As to the original question,,,,,what other choice was there? Renault were and still are nowhere the door at McLaren was slammed shut and bolted and will remain so as far as he is concerned, and Red Bull wouldn't suite him as long as Vettel is there.
Through the joke I meant to say Schumacher brought the work ethic to turn the easy going Ferrari operations around. That Ferrari have had less success (since he left) might have more to do with the work ethic and leadership qualities of Schumacher than the actual difference in driving ability between Schumacher and Alonso.
In all of this speculation, we aren't asking what it was that he was claiming to be giving up. Was he aiming for a podium finish? And how feasible would that have been if he had been released from behind Massa earlier? The way he crossed the gap was certainly impressive but, given the nature of the circuit and DRS zones, he would probably just have spent more laps at the back of the Hamilton train. Personally, I think the closing of the gap AND the "I give up" were a combined message to his team.
With minimum research I have found the answer you seem so keen to know he explained his remark like this I hope that clears that up.
