This is interesting but not sure how true it is: http://blog.quotidiano.net/turrini/2014/05/21/domenicali-rivisto-da-vicino/ Says he called Alonso, Kimi and Vettel for his farewell. Worst kept secret since, well 2009?
And he is quoted by Spain’s EFE news agency as saying driver skill is more important than ever, after the move to the new breed of turbo-powered cars. Drivers with the new hybrid power must be very good,” said Zetsche, “because the cars are no longer the ‘trams’ that we have seen before. (Don't see him saying driver skill is more important though like the Spanish media make out.) “Alonso is perhaps the best driver on the grid, demonstrating it even in a slightly less competitive car.” Got to love the story fabrication by the Spanish media to ease their superiority complexs that Lewis is crushing everybody at the moment by nit picking quotes to make a story.
Well I'm sure Mercedes would love Alonso. He's got the never say die attitude to win and given their car he'd probably be giving Lewis a real challenge. Not to say Rosberg hasn't been good, but Fernando would have taken at least one of those wins that he followed Lewis home in. I'd imagine the bosses over in Germany would like a German driver though. It is a good marketing tool, but so is winning the title and I suspect if Red Bull or Ferrari actually had their act together then the WDC might have gone elsewhere.
If Mercedes can stay the best car then theres no need for Alonso. Rosberg is a 'local' lad and pretty fast, Hamilton is the 'talent'. If you have a fast car then it makes sense to have (in theory) one driver faster than the other, stops them taking points off each other and getting in each others way for both WCC and WDC. If and when Mercedes are no longer the fastest or almost fastest then maybe it might be worth acquiring Alonso, but in that case would Alonso want to come?
Considering Alonso's track record with team principles, designers and the teams being left like they have been f**ked over, Mercedes would be wise to stay away from a cancer like that and tell him to stick his Spanish bank money as he isn't worth the hassle for the baggage he carries. That with all the **** he pulled off at McLaren and Renault 2008 shows he will gladly **** on 'brand Mercedes' in a blink of an eye if it means he will win the race. Lewis and Rosberg are the perfect (team) just like Vettel and Webber were with RBR. Alonso is just a variable to get in the way of Mercedes dominance in my opinion, he would do more harm to Mercedes than good and I want him nowhere near the Silverarrows, NO THANK YOU! If it isn't broke, don't fix it...
nah, they try, then the drivers ego gets in the way and starts causing problems, Mansell/Piquet Senna/Prost Prost/Mansell Hamilton/Alonso I think Merc will go the same way.
true. You'd hope they had a bit of sense instilled by the guiding hand of Ross Brawn. He'll have been adamant that they follow Ferrari's plan during the dominant years. Get someone in to win and then have someone to back him up in case the car fails!
Gene Haas has started building his F1 facilities next door to his NASCAR ones. please log in to view this image
Completely fake. Turrini often does this (making up stories, fake conversations, etc). Unfortunately he also has real sources, so it's hard to know when he's telling the truth and when he's being a dick. Bianca Garloff @bgarloff Just talked to Stefano Domenicali. His interview on an italian blog was a fake. He did not speak about mattiacci, Vettel and schumi.
I wonder what Nico's contract terms include. I would like to think he would get equal status and maybe near enough pay? surely the more cost effective driver of the 2 currently
Obvious and sensible move by Merc, and you have to feel that Nico deserves it - for both his performances and the years of development. I still feel that Merc will remain one of the most competitive cars in this new age of F1, so it does limit the potential merry go round for driver moves for next season. I realistically cant see any real driver shocks for next year, especially as most teams will probably want to keep continuety for development.
