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Formula One 2007 (7 Viewers)
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such a retard...
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Fernando Alonso announces split from McLaren
Times Online
Fernando Alonso, the former double Formula One world champion, has left McLaren.
Alonso, who won the title in 2005 and 2006, is now free to sign for another team next season after being released by the team.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," Alonso said in a statement released by McLaren.
Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, said: "Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren's Spanish partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrilena and the team's title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future."
Alonso, who left Renault to join McLaren and had two years left on his deal, is reported to be ready to return to drive for the French manufacturer next season.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, who finished third in the world championship behind rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's new champion Kimi Raikkonen, has had a strained relationship with the Woking-based team.
Alonso launched a critical attack on the team last week in the aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix. In an interview with a Spanish radio, Alonso said: “McLaren got it wrong. They lost the championship for the mistaken decisions they made in the second part of the season. It isn’t a secret that they haven’t helped me much, and it wasn’t a well-organised season from the point of view of the management.
“There was no sensation of being a team and the result speaks for itself. Each person will have to draw their own lessons from this season, but if we had taken a different approach we would have obtained different results.”
At the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, Alonso threatened Dennis with divulging the contents of his email inbox to the FIA in relation to the Ferrari-McLaren spy saga unless he was granted number one status.
It resulted in a furious row between the pair, with Dennis conceding at the hearing of the spy case last month they were no longer on speaking terms.
Dennis then stated after the Chinese Grand Prix a fortnight ago in which Hamilton slid into gravel on severely-worn tyres that the team were not competing against Raikkonen, but against Alonso.
“What the boss said after China about the team racing against me and not Kimi was a clear declaration of intentions,” Alonso said. “In the last few races my hands and feet were tied. I had no power to make decisions. I had to race as they told me.”
Alonso’s hopes of a move to Ferrari looked to have been dashed last month with the announcement by the Scuderia that they are retaining the services of Felipe Massa until the end of 2010.
Given that Ferrari have Kimi Raikkonen on their books until the end of 2009, the decision appears to make it impossible for Alonso to switch from McLaren to the Italian team, either this winter or in 12 months’ time.
That decision left Alonso with only two realistic options: either to stay at McLaren for what he has termed “another beautiful battle” with Lewis Hamilton, his championship rival, or to make a long-term move this winter back to Renault.
The best guess is that Alonso will do a swap with Heikki Kovalainen, the Finnish rookie who drives for Renault, who will drive alongside Hamilton at McLaren. The big danger for Alonso is that he will find himself in a team at Renault who may still be off the pace of the Ferraris and the McLarens next season, heralding a potentially barren spell for the Spaniard.
Times Online
Fernando Alonso, the former double Formula One world champion, has left McLaren.
Alonso, who won the title in 2005 and 2006, is now free to sign for another team next season after being released by the team.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," Alonso said in a statement released by McLaren.
Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, said: "Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren's Spanish partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrilena and the team's title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future."
Alonso, who left Renault to join McLaren and had two years left on his deal, is reported to be ready to return to drive for the French manufacturer next season.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, who finished third in the world championship behind rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's new champion Kimi Raikkonen, has had a strained relationship with the Woking-based team.
Alonso launched a critical attack on the team last week in the aftermath of the Brazilian Grand Prix. In an interview with a Spanish radio, Alonso said: “McLaren got it wrong. They lost the championship for the mistaken decisions they made in the second part of the season. It isn’t a secret that they haven’t helped me much, and it wasn’t a well-organised season from the point of view of the management.
“There was no sensation of being a team and the result speaks for itself. Each person will have to draw their own lessons from this season, but if we had taken a different approach we would have obtained different results.”
At the Hungarian Grand Prix in August, Alonso threatened Dennis with divulging the contents of his email inbox to the FIA in relation to the Ferrari-McLaren spy saga unless he was granted number one status.
It resulted in a furious row between the pair, with Dennis conceding at the hearing of the spy case last month they were no longer on speaking terms.
Dennis then stated after the Chinese Grand Prix a fortnight ago in which Hamilton slid into gravel on severely-worn tyres that the team were not competing against Raikkonen, but against Alonso.
“What the boss said after China about the team racing against me and not Kimi was a clear declaration of intentions,” Alonso said. “In the last few races my hands and feet were tied. I had no power to make decisions. I had to race as they told me.”
Alonso’s hopes of a move to Ferrari looked to have been dashed last month with the announcement by the Scuderia that they are retaining the services of Felipe Massa until the end of 2010.
Given that Ferrari have Kimi Raikkonen on their books until the end of 2009, the decision appears to make it impossible for Alonso to switch from McLaren to the Italian team, either this winter or in 12 months’ time.
That decision left Alonso with only two realistic options: either to stay at McLaren for what he has termed “another beautiful battle” with Lewis Hamilton, his championship rival, or to make a long-term move this winter back to Renault.
The best guess is that Alonso will do a swap with Heikki Kovalainen, the Finnish rookie who drives for Renault, who will drive alongside Hamilton at McLaren. The big danger for Alonso is that he will find himself in a team at Renault who may still be off the pace of the Ferraris and the McLarens next season, heralding a potentially barren spell for the Spaniard.
Saying in numerous sources that McLaren have put a clause restricting Alonso to driving only for non-manufacturer teams in 2008, so maybe a year of gardening leave/IndyCar/RedBull for him.
Interesting to see how McLaren develop their car with no top level experienced driver.
Also heard they may go for Button to replace Alonso....
Interesting to see how McLaren develop their car with no top level experienced driver.
Also heard they may go for Button to replace Alonso....
Ron Dennis is blinded with Hamilton who is only a talented driver that has no experience and his feedback will not be really helpful. He will have to rely on his test drivers but those don't race so their input is somehow not promising.
As for Alonso, after he returns, won't join Ferrari; I think he's the kind of driver that like to be over-achieving and this is done with mediocre teams.
As for Alonso, after he returns, won't join Ferrari; I think he's the kind of driver that like to be over-achieving and this is done with mediocre teams.
The McLaren Formula One team today announced that it came to an agreement with Fernando Alonso that it would be in the best of interests of both parties to bring the relationship to an end. The Spaniard had an ongoing contract with the Woking based team for another two seasons.
Fernando Alonso will now be on the lookout for a new challenge in Formula 1. It is very likely he will return at Renault. Team boss Flavio Briatore never made a secret of it he loved to see Alonso return at Renault.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," Alonso said on the announcement. "I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra-challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home. I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win. Today's decision allows all of us to focus on 2008, and I wish the team, Vodafone, Banco Santander, Mutua Madrileña and all the other team Partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future."
Ron Dennis wishes the driver all the best in the future. He said: "Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren's Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña and the team's title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future. He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward. We all believe that our joint decision to part company is for the best, and we will now continue to focus on our 2008 World Championship challenge."
Fernando Alonso will now be on the lookout for a new challenge in Formula 1. It is very likely he will return at Renault. Team boss Flavio Briatore never made a secret of it he loved to see Alonso return at Renault.
"Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out," Alonso said on the announcement. "I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. Yes, we have had our ups and downs during the season, which has made it extra-challenging for all of us, and it is not a secret that I never really felt at home. I know there have been suggestions of favouritism within the team and people say a lot of things in the heat of battle, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win. Today's decision allows all of us to focus on 2008, and I wish the team, Vodafone, Banco Santander, Mutua Madrileña and all the other team Partners who I have worked closely with during the year, the best for the future."
Ron Dennis wishes the driver all the best in the future. He said: "Everybody at Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, especially McLaren's Spanish Partners Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña and the team's title partner Vodafone, want to wish Fernando all the best for the future. He is a great driver but for some reason the combination of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and Fernando has not really worked out, and in the end we reached a stage where none of us could find a way to move forward. We all believe that our joint decision to part company is for the best, and we will now continue to focus on our 2008 World Championship challenge."