Official F1/Motorsport thread

[Malc]

I don't like Hammy, ever since he came at the start of this season.

You just can't warm to him and he keeps all his emotions to himself, whereas Alonso shows it in his racing. Kinda reminds me of Montoya.

[VR46]

Ferrari to try to lure Hamilton with a £20m a year deal ? amazing to think he could walk into any team now yet six months ago he hadn't driven a F1 car (competitively).

http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article.html?in_article_id=60373&in_page_id=58

[Alastair]

Hmmm, I'm not sure I believe that but it certainly would be sensational if it were true.

All the other rumours in the international press yesterday and today have been that it's Alonso that's already actively trying to leave and the main place for him to go sounds like (almost unbelievably) Renault! If not them then BMW.

The fact is that both Nando and Hamilton are tied in to multi-year contracts. I know that contracts can be broken but I somehow doubt that both of them would be allowed out.

[VR46]

Sure they could both easily get out of their contracts due to the spying saga.

Their contracts must have a list of clauses as long as your arm.

[Alastair]

I guess so but it would be foolish for Hamilton to leave the team that helps him become world champion (maybe) unless they get a season long ban. That will be the only scenario in which I think Lewis will leave. Surely he wont be on £1 million next year? Even if he is he must already be earning 5 times that from sponsors let alone what he'd be able to earn if he is world champion.

I do actually expect Alonso to leave at the end of the season, maybe even before, the big baby but I'd be surprised if Lewis does too. That said it also feels to me like Ron is preparing to step down so maybe he feels he doesn't own anyone there anything and will run to the highest bidder. Only time will tell.

[Kieran76]

Let Alonso leave and lets have a Button and Hamilton dream team Got to feel a bit sorry for Jensen stuck at the back of the grid in the ugliest car.

[VR46]

Jenson could do with a break yes, Honda are becoming more of a joke as the season goes on.

Would be funny if both Alonso & Hamilton left McLaren - what makes you think RD is preparing to stand down Alastair ? can't see it myself to be honest, he's got more money than he could ever spend and you can see he still has the passion to win.

[The_G_Man]

Sure they could both easily get out of their contracts due to the spying saga.

Their contracts must have a list of clauses as long as your arm.

Yes, I think you are 100% correct. I remember reading that both Alonso and Hamilton have clauses in their contract which enables them to leave Mclaren if their reputatons are tarnished by the actions of the Mclaren team.

Although if I were Mclaren I would have a written clause about it's drivers tarnishing Mclarens reputation, which is exactly what is hapopening. Hamilton is out of control and Alonso has lost the plot I think.

I am an Alonso fan and would love to see him get his 3rd WDC and then move onto BMW and start to build that team into challengers for season 2009.

[Alastair]

what makes you think RD is preparing to stand down Alastair ? can't see it myself to be honest, he's got more money than he could ever spend and you can see he still has the passion to win.

Not sure, was just a feeling I had really that maybe with Lewis in and winning and McL getting the Constructors that he may not feel the need to be involved any more. That may all have changed though as their hold on the Constructors is slipping.

Sly Fox, you're right about the contract clause, I've read that too. I'm sure it goes the other way too though.

Lewis does seem to have got a bit big for his boots but I still think he'd be crazy to leave unless McL get a ban next year.

[Richard.John]

It a frigging mess whichever way you look at it. I think Nando will leave as the relationship has hit rock bottom and Ron will not be able to salvage it. It must be like two teams within the team right now.

My take on the incident is that maybe FA was trying to say to LH, don't **** with me. He disobeyed team orders to the detriment of FA, so possibly FA tried to teach him a lesson by leisurely pulling away from box. It backfired of course as he got pole. If FA had just missed out then maybe this nasty affair would have been quickly forgotten about on Sat afternoon. I pity RD really as he has enough on his plate right now so really doesn't need a falling out between his drivers.

[On The Edge of Insanity]

You just can't warm to him and he keeps all his emotions to himself, whereas Alonso shows it in his racing. Kinda reminds me of Montoya.

I think its just the Latin temprement. Although his wheel to wheel with Massa in Germany was quite Montoya-esque.

[dcmk]

I think its just the Latin temprement. Although his wheel to wheel with Massa in Germany was quite Montoya-esque.

complained like a girl after though! its FA no one is allowed to pass him or get in his way its the rules.. no one is allowed to hold him up !

[Richard.John]

I don't think he was trying to say that, just don't run me off the road when I try to pass. Of course Massa had a good teacher in that regard....

[On The Edge of Insanity]

The spanish media are pretty much saying the opposite of the UK media, describing Lewis' actions in Hungary as a 'revolt act', and a "major indiscipline".

More amusingly they also say in a mocking fashion that 'British has been waiting for a F1 idol for so long", obviously forgetting that before Alonso, they didn't even have a race winner.

And, Button's Time Is Up http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61440

According to our Nige

[Eps]

Hamilton's just young and cocky - he needs to have some of the sharp edges knocked off. Alonso, however, should know better by now. Still, it's not like Prost and Senna yet...