Will Alonso return to Renault in 2008?

[mjstallard]

Now - will the R28 be a force to be reckoned with?

[mjstallard]

Some more interesting comment from Renault folk on the championship here:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/63216

I dunno how much to read into the "fish out of water" comment - are they sort of subconsciously making the case that Fernando's "true home" is Renault? Or should I lay off the coffee?

[OVERSTEER]

If I were a boss of any team, i'd only employ him as a tea boy!

[Knowlesy]

Yes, of course, who needs a champion driver in the car?

[Peter Mallett]

knowlesy,

Those of us who go back a way will say that driving like a champion is only part of it. To be a champion you have to BE a Champion.

For me and many others Alonso has behaved badly this year and even if we forgive his tantrums in previous seasons, no right minded individual could say his behaviour this year has been dignified.

Graham Hill had to deal with Jim Clark as a f'rinstance.

If he goes, good riddance.

[f1manoz]

Well, seems pretty clear that Alonso is on his way back to Renault. I don't see Ron Dennis throwing up too many roadblocks to prevent it.

[Peter Mallett]

Not at all, he's just got his 100mil back.

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by f1manoz

Well, seems pretty clear that Alonso is on his way back to Renault. I don't see Ron Dennis throwing up too many roadblocks to prevent it.

I dunno? I would've thought Ron'll almost certainly block it unless his current contract is bought out.

I can't imagine Ron simply annulling the existing deal and saying

'Well thanks Fernando, we've got all this sponsorship built around you doesn't matter if we lose it, and it's a shame it didn't work out, you feel free to toddle off elsewhere as you please' sort of thing.

[Born Racer]

good riddance

Yep. Good driver, **** attitude. Not even remotely gracious in defeat.

He could learn a bit from Hamilton's reaction after his Shanghai mistake.

[brands]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

good riddance.

Agreed....I've never seen such whinging and toy throwing by one driver.

I saw the odd moment in 2005/6, Canada when Fisi was ahead of him, his hissyfit about Renault towards the end of last season, but this season and especially in the past month, it's like watching a two year old having tantrums.

As a 30+ year McLaren follower starved of a title this millennium if Lewis can't win the title I will be cheering on Kimi and the dark team to pick up the 2007 WDC

Ron should have sacked Alonso after the blackmail attempt in Hungary but I suppose he thought, after Alonso's manager retracted the statement about new evidence, that it would have harmed the WCC battle....ironic really.

Alonso maybe a great driver but I've been sickened by all the baggage he has brought to McLaren.

[foreversideways]

He is just a spoiled child who has found out he is not quite as good as he thought he was. His perfomances this year also call into question how good he actually is and how much Schumacher was hobbled by his Ferrari during the two championships Alonso won. Not what you would call a class act.

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by f1manoz

Well, seems pretty clear that Alonso is on his way back to Renault. I don't see Ron Dennis throwing up too many roadblocks to prevent it.

Well with the way it's going, I would think that behind closed doors Ron Dennis is feeling rather relieved at the prospect to be honest.

[Kirk]

Yes, I agree Jeremy, but that won't stop Ronnie from making FA squirm some, and wait until the 11th hour before allowing his release.
As for FA, careful what you wish for could apply here. Heikki has made some nice progress this year and will be tough to beat. I anticipate another excellent rivalry if it does happen.

[Smurfer]

Originally Posted by foreversideways

No surprise there then. All he now needs to do is convince himself that being beaten by Hamilton was nothing to do with him and that he is still the quickest etc. Reality = being outclassed by a rookie teammate then sulking off with your tail between your legs. I guess he will have something else to gripe about next year as if you recall he was griping at Renault the year he left.

I think he already believes that Hamilton beating him was a result of McLaren rather than him being inferior (I'm not suggesting that he is inferior).

According to the reports Renault thank the R28 is going to be a screamer. FA must partially believe this given he intends on leaving Mc.

I think Ron Dennis would be more than happy to let FA go. I don't think he has had a worse year (from a stress point of view). His only problem now will be to not get too excited by the prospect and to play it cool in order to get a suitable sum for letting FA go.

[CDK 7]

Originally Posted by f1manoz

Well, seems pretty clear that Alonso is on his way back to Renault. I don't see Ron Dennis throwing up too many roadblocks to prevent it.

jenson for mclaren then !!!

[Smurfer]

Originally Posted by CDK 7

jenson for mclaren then !!!

Although I'm not a fan of Jenson I think he deserves a go. See what he is really made of.

[Marbot]

Nahh! It'll just be a straight swap.Kovy to McLaren where he can give Hamilton a hard time and Alonso to Renault where Fisi will (as usual) give himself a hard time.

[touringlegend]

As much as Hamilton is a top driver, I still think McLaren need an experienced hand in the other seat. Button fits that bill perfectly I feel.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by touringlegend

As much as Hamilton is a top driver, I still think McLaren need an experienced hand in the other seat. Button fits that bill perfectly I feel.

Button has said unequivically that he fully expects to be driving a Honda next season,he's very flattered that the paddock think he would be good enough to race a McLaren,but no,thankyou very much.

So it's pretty much a done deal then.

[Peter Mallett]

Yep, Button to McLaren then.

[MrTTraces]

If Mclaren let FA (sweet Fanny Adams) go it'll be on THEIR terms not Fernando's.

If he still has a year to go on his contract but the relationship between him and the team has broken down. Hard Luck Fernando!

Mclaren could quite easily say 'If your unhappy sit out the year or if you want to race go were we tell you because you still under contract' (uncompetitive team not likely to challenge for the championship).

Given those options I bet he would grovel to Ron to keep his seat.

[touringlegend]

I'm sure Ron can afford to buy out his Honda contract from what Renault give him for moody Alonso.

[Knowlesy]

Alonso hasn't been exactly dignified this year, no, however I am finding it hard to see a single dignified character in F1 this year to be quite brutally honest. Kimi I would say has been, as he has that keep your head down out of the way nature about him. However, anyone else? Sorry, I am struggling quite massively to see it at the sharp end of the grid.

foreversideways, I don't think you can say that there are questions over how good Alonso is. If there are then Lewis' achievements are under the same umbrella, i.e. he hasn't actually beaten (if he does) anyone special. A ridiculous argument I think most will agree.

Schumacher was certainly hobbled in 2005 but not in 2006 by any stretch. Alonso has won two titles in a car that, fundamentally, wasn't the outright fastest. He may add a third next weekend.

No teammate will get as close to Hamilton as Alonso has this year. I'll put my life savings on it. Forgetting the attitude, in future people will look back on this season and say that Alonso was the hardest guy Lewis had to beat within his own team as the Brit goes on to dominate F1 for years to come.

[foreversideways]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Alonso hasn't been exactly dignified this year, no, however I am finding it hard to see a single dignified character in F1 this year to be quite brutally honest. Kimi I would say has been, as he has that keep your head down out of the way nature about him. However, anyone else? Sorry, I am struggling quite massively to see it at the sharp end of the grid.

foreversideways, I don't think you can say that there are questions over how good Alonso is. If there are then Lewis' achievements are under the same umbrella, i.e. he hasn't actually beaten (if he does) anyone special. A ridiculous argument I think most will agree.

Schumacher was certainly hobbled in 2005 but not in 2006 by any stretch. Alonso has won two titles in a car that, fundamentally, wasn't the outright fastest. He may add a third next weekend.

No teammate will get as close to Hamilton as Alonso has this year. I'll put my life savings on it. Forgetting the attitude, in future people will look back on this season and say that Alonso was the hardest guy Lewis had to beat within his own team as the Brit goes on to dominate F1 for years to come.

Sounds like your agreeing with me really. In F1 the only real comparison you have is your own team mate and Alonso has clearly failed to impose himself on Hamilton. It is therefor a natural train of thought to review his previous achievements. Having said all that it is telling that Ron Dennis suggested last weekend that they weren't racing Kimi, but Alonso. A gaff i think, but was he enlightening us to his inner thoughts.

[Alan Raine]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

No teammate will get as close to Hamilton as Alonso has this year. I'll put my life savings on it. Forgetting the attitude, in future people will look back on this season and say that Alonso was the hardest guy Lewis had to beat within his own team as the Brit goes on to dominate F1 for years to come.

You may well be right there. We could be on the brink of another Schumacher era (no not Ralph). A period when one driver almost rules all. I only hope that Hamilton adopts the Valentino Rossi style which is popular with the majority of supporters than the Schumacher style which offended so many