Op-Ed: How the German GP reinforces all my concerns about Alonso
July 26, 2010 by SJ Skid
Filed under F1B Op-Ed, People & Events, SJ Skid
Before diving head first in, a quick note that, I’m sure, will absolutely surprise a number of you.
While F1B is unabashedly an “opinion” site about Formula 1, we do strive for analysis, I think, in the end. While we may form opinions about whether Mark Webber or Heikki Kovalainen were at fault or whether Mark Webber or Sebastian Vettel should be blamed, I think if you look at our posts we do try to bring some evidence, something approaching facts or figures to our arguments.
We may throw around snark as if it were going out of style (which, I fear, it may be), and we may all have favorite targets for our scorn (or, in Grace’s case, favorite targets — as in everyone on the grid), but we try to be reasonable — as much as possible.
Now, of course, I’m a biased observer of this. But I do think it is rare when we put forth something purely emotional, without any solid facts to back things up — unless we clearly mark it as so.
So, let’s just say I’m clearly marking this as one of those times.
This is all gut reaction. This is just a “sense” I have. A feeling. A feeling I’ve mentioned, in passing, tentatively, here and there over the past couple of years.
That feeling is this: Something just bothers me about Fernando Alonso. Something I don’t feel toward any of the other F1 drivers.
I can’t quite describe it in one word, because that boxes my feeling in a little too much. I don’t think Alonso’s a “cheat,” for instance. But that word comes quickly to mind when I think of him. I don’t think he’s “underhanded.” But I don’t think he isn’t.
I do think that, more so than every other extremely competitive driver on the Formula 1 grid, Alonso will stop at nothing to win. But I don’t know how far he would go.
For whatever reason, I just get a bad feeling about him.
Keep in mind, as I write this, I know I don’t have anything specific to point to about it. Well, I have these weird circumstantial pieces of evidence that I honestly cannot get past.
I can’t get past the fact that during his one year with McLaren, the team ended up embroiled in “Spygate.”
I can’t get past the fact that when he returned to Renault the team planned for Nelson Piquet Jr. to slam into a wall in order to help Alonso win a race.
And, yes, I know he wasn’t implicated in either of those incidents. But I filed them away — and I know I’ve said this in the Forum at F1B if not somewhere on this main page — as a “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” potential.
It just seemed like bad things followed Alonso around. And while he’s never been blamed for them, I … well, again, gut feeling. They just put a big question mark over his head — for me.
It’s a big question mark that doesn’t change the fact that I believe he’s one of the best drivers in the world right now, if not the best. But it is a question mark that makes it hard for me to root for him. I just have a feeling that maybe he doesn’t deserve my support.
And now comes the German Grand Prix. I doubt there is much need to delve into the details. Yes, every driver goes on the radio and complains about being held up — even if the complaint is toward a team mate. Yes, Alonso and Felipe Massa are employed by Ferrari and, to an extent, have to do what the bosses in Maranello say. Yes, Alonso is closer in the drivers race and has shown better form all season.
And yes, maybe Alonso did the smart thing by not trying to race Massa wheel-to-wheel. We just have to look to Red Bull to see what can happen.
Yes, yes and yes. I know, I get it.
But then there’s another controversy, another incident that raises a host of questions, and Fernando Alonso is right there, involved, and this time pretty darn near the center.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
I just can’t get past that.
I guess what I’m saying is for me, speaking as one fan — one fan who happens to have a soapbox, courtesy of Negative Camber — these series of events just further harden my concerns, my worries — maybe it’s fair to say dislike, but I suppose I’d choose disinterest — of Fernando Alonso.
Now, that’s nothing earth-shattering, I know. But I can’t believe I’m the only one, and I have to wonder what long-term damage these events will do to Alonso and Ferrari. I wonder if the actions on Sunday will end up being worth the lost fans and, depending on the World Motor Sport Council’s decision, the lost points. (I also want to be on the record with my entirely subjective, gut reaction to Alonso on the off, off chance that my suspicions turn out to be true.)
Two last things.
First, this does not, I honestly don’t believe, make me a “hater” of Fernando Alonso. It certainly doesn’t make me a big fan, but I think it really just makes me not particularly care how he does. I feel just more indifferent to him — which I don’t like because he’s a great driver and exhilarating to watch. I guess my biggest disappointment, what compelled me to write this, is I feel like I’m being deprived the joy of cheering for such a talent.
The more I think about that, the more upset that makes me. But right now I just can’t be an Alonso supporter.
Also, I will — and have — keep my opinions of him in mind as I talk about him and Ferrari on this site. I’ll try not to let them color things too much.
Second, I am extremely happy that all of this is overshadowing the absolutely ridiculous, stupid, unfathomable pitstop mess-up by Force India.
Now that is junior league.
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I agree. There’s no saying it’s all him (whichever incident) but he’s always just there, isn’t he? Shit just seems to slide off him as if he were made out of freakin teflon.
I suppose his desire to win and what he’ll do for it is impressive. It’s just not always a pretty way to win. I don’t think I’d want it that way myself.
the Anglo-Saxon press is the more hypocritical of the world. only some are saved as James Allen, for example…
is my opinion, there were no team orders so far?… this year obviously
“the Anglo-Saxon press is the more hypocritical of the world”
You obviously haven’t read Marca then
why?? James Allen write now in Marca?? me LoL
I now realise I shouldn’t have replied to your post. There seems to be a language barrier at work here. I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
What exactly did Alonso do wrong this weekend? wow, what is the argument your trying to make? Fernando isn’t losing any fans this weekend. Ferrari isn’t going to, maybe only some casual F1 fans. The only problem Ferrari had this weekend is that they left Alonso’s team ordered overtake too late and weren’t able to do it during pitstops like other teams have done post 2002, and make it NOT look like team orders. They were just too obvious.
As for spygate? what exactly did Alonso have to do with ANY of that? he and test driver De La Rosa at the time were helping the FIA.
As for Singapore, was he sitting with in with Symonds and Flav? That whole race has some odor to it with the Renault team. Speaking of drivers that will do any not to just win, but to just stay in F1. How about on OP-ED of Piquet Jr.?
All I know with Fernando is that his worst year in F1 was at McLaren w/ Lewis, and he was still competitive and collecting wins and was right there fighting at the finale in Brazil. And that was an AWFUL season for him.
All he’s done since is pulled in very consistent points scoring results with uncompetitive cars.
He’ll do anything to win? I wonder what your thoughts are on Senna and Schumi’s ON TRACK antics?
I don’t think I can explain it much better than I did above, Alex. I admit there’s nothing substantial, it’s just a feeling that continues to build within me. Why does trouble seem to follow Alonso?
It just gives me a bad feeling. And I feel a bit cheated that I can’t be an Alonso fan because something just seems … not quite right to me.
It’s purely a fan reaction to these things; pure sports fan reaction, gut/feeling — nothing logical. And I don’t seem to be alone. So I thought I’d put it out there and see what the reaction was.
What you are ‘feeling’ is xenophobia. Please do every reasonable F1 fan a favour and stop converting your ‘senses’ to blog posts. Alonso is the only one at Ferrari who did nothing wrong this weekend. He just did what every champion did – being selfish and professional. Yeah, the real world sucks – but thats how it is.
Thinking about it – I stopped following this blogs tweets and will now unsubscribe its RSS feed. There are just too many really bad bad posts. And putting ‘Op-Ed’ in the headline doesn’t make them better.
Please have a look at http://tinyurl.com/39eq38j and learn. Thats journalism and opinion. Your ‘feelings’ that you are unable to give sense are just… Well I’d better stop here, sorry.
I 100% would argue with you. I’m sorry if that’s how you take it — Alonso’s nationality has zero to do with my reaction. I don’t think you could find reason to say that.
Of course, I will be the first to point out that having a “feeling” that’s my rationale is close to what I’m writing about toward Alonso. But I can assure you that isn’t the case.
I hope you’ll reconsider unsubscribing, although it’s your right to do so of course.
–SJS
Notice, xenophobia is not necessarily about nationalities but about groups (and I fully believe your statement it not being about nationalities). He’s not part of a group that you like. You’re a fan and probably I just don’t want to read posts from driver fans – I follow F1 for too long to be fanatic when it comes to drivers or teams. I’m fan of the technology, show and controversy F1 gives us to talk about.
My point is what do you think your post contributes to anything but feeding, in this case, Alonso bashers? British racing fans have the image to be the fairest around any race track in the world. And this post is just in the complete contrary to that and that is why IMHO your post should never have been published.
I think we’re definitely crossing wires. I’m not a fanatic, either — I’m mostly interesting in the technology, the cars and the strategy — sounds pretty close to what you write. I picked up a bit of fandom for Force India when the team was trolling around the back of the grid because it made Q1 more interesting — I could push for one of its cars to get into Q2. Now, that’s usually routine.
But what group do you mean? That I’m not sure about.
And I did try to put it in the context that, unlike our other posts here (I hope) I was going a bit of a different direction. I did so because I assume others are feeling the way I am and I thought it might tap into some useful discussion.
Each to his/her own on whether I hit the mark.
That said, I don’t think I’m misstating things by saying this is a fan-driven site. We try to create interesting and fun conversation, but we’re not James Allen or Tom Cary.
In my further defense, I’m not British, too. Maybe that gives me license to be 212% crazy! :)
I wasn’t trying to fuel Alonso bashing. But I’m just curious why he keeps finding himself near the center of controversy. That’s all. If someone can help answer that, I’ll be very pleased.
One final thing: I was a journalist for more than a decade and am now a media consultant in my day time life. So I hope I manage to keep a fair amount of perspective on things when I post. This one was — admittedly — a bit of a departure.
Apologies that it struck such a ill-sounding chord to you. Was not my intent.
Must’ve learned his ‘skills’ from observing the peloton ..
I love this piece. It’s an honest opinion, which like most other personal opinions is based on a ‘feeling’. I totally understand it too. I feel like there’s always been something amiss about Alonso. I wasn’t impressed with all the Alonso to Ferrari rumours and I could never get my head around why Ferrari would want him. I fully appreciate that he is a proven, fast and hungry driver, but he’s just a bit too well, Alonso-ish (I just don’t trust him) for my liking. I don’t think he fits in with Ferrari and I think it was a mistake to hire him, especially given the more family-like atmosphere Luca is trying to promote within Ferrari. So what, he may win a title (or even three) with Ferrari, but if he has the car to win titles then he should just get on with it and let his closest rival (his teammate) bring the challenge to him. I think that’s what makes the great drivers great,.. get the job done regardless.
wow… talk about an extreme case of pleonasm. a simple “I don’t much care for Alonso” would’ve covered your point nicely.
What a relief. When you hadn’t commented yet I was worried something had happened to you! :)
My concerns about Alonso have been building since Crashgate… I got it out of my system. Well, until whatever is bound to happen this weekend in Hungary happens.
I might argue your use of pleonasm. But it’s such a good word, I won’t.
but verbose didn’t quite cover it
At least you didn’t resort to verbose pleonasm, thus uniting form and function (sort of).
My Alonso rant is out of my system. It’s all about strange Canadian junk food now.
isn’t pleonastic blathering by default verbose?
much akin to all squares being rectangles but not all rectangles are squares…
;-)
now back to your previous post that easily could’ve been added to this one with nothing more than one sentence…. or small paragraph at the least.
But I think it also implies a somewhat compacted redundancy. “tuna fish” seems to be a popular example.
So verbose pleonasm would be a classic pleonasm. I think.
fair point… but now i’m hungry.
There’s got to be plenty of food deep in the heart there.
just finished off a grilled Tuna steak with cilantro-n-lime…. although it wasn’t quite what i’d expected to go with my fresh-made cheese ravioli. I waited a half hour between courses ;-)
thanks for the suggestion
You mean “tuna fish steak.”
I’m about to fire up a gazpacho, with homemade croutons and some salmon.
I love it when F1B turns into food1blog.com.
IMO Biggest wrong doing of Alonso was that Handshake with the Shark on Podium of Brazil’05. To that date, Alonso was the darling of the F1 fans, messiah who was fighting the allconquering (and the unsportsman) might of Schumacher. So the Press and Fans were boosting Alonso more than he deserved. How his then team-manager was mistreating his team-mates (Trulli/Fisichella)in Renault, how their race strategies, Pitstops were bungled after they won races for the team ahead of Alonso was quitely swept under the carpet firstly by the “Paid Press” and secondly by the fans who simply lap up the words of these “Pundits”.
Alonso was just the same in his Pre-McLaren years as in post McLaren years. Its just that, McLaren used him and his WDC status to poach sponsors from rival cars, and the moment they realized that their homegrown talent is championship material, they dumped him like bad case of flea.
After Hamilton’s sensation debut in Australia, the body language of Ron Dennis in Particular and McLaren team in general on Lewis’s acheivements versus Alonso’s acheivements was well captured on Television feeds world wide. The discrimination was so very evident that Alonso’s father started hanging around in Renault Motorhome after first three races in the season.
The moment, British “Pundits” got their own hero to cheer for, Alonso’s share went down, whatever he did (or they perceived he did)was given negative press and he was a victim from that point onwards.
As someone who is ambivalent to all the teams and drivers (all of whom I feel are nothing more than babies with massive egos)I clearly can absolve Alonso of
a) the Spy Gate saga – It was quite clear that McLaren team at all levels were aware of the “Data” received from Ferrari. Its simply not possible that the two drivers were testing the data while the third was quietly cocooned away from the scandal. Or was it just a “Scheme” of Ron Dennis to protect “His boy” and expose the least favored to “toxic assets”, just in case something explodes…
b)Singapore’08 – Even in 05-06 when Renault was a Front running team, the Renault boss Carlos Ghosn always made clear through his press releases, that the F1 program should be self sustaining (meaning should find its own source of finances). Flavio who was tasked to market the F1 team definitely under pressure to hold on to ING their title sponsor. Knowing how Briatore, Illtreated Trulli and Fisichella, I am pretty sure he was scheming things with Piquet (whom he was managing) to renew his contract on certain condition.
Having said that, the moment the crash happened, my first reaction was this is staged since its going to help the other Renault car. I am sure Alonso is not as naive not to have realized this by end of the race and kind of trouble he was headed towards.
Interesting part is so called “Pundits” never even bother to explore that angle immediately after the race, there were not even doubts raised in the weeks after the race. I find that initial silence intriguing, or were the “Paid Pundits” gagged as well by Briatore’s friend (the one who runs the F1 circus)? How come everyone waited till Nelson Piquet blackmailed the team a year later.
The role of So called “Non Biased” Press (predominantly British) was never questioned.
If the Pundits (who have spend their life in F1/motorsports) can claim to be naive enough to sleep over the matter for an year, then why can’t the same benefit of doubt be given to the Spaniard?
c) HockenHeim’10 – I have written elsewhere, the Moment Vettel blocked Alonso and let Massa pass him by to the race lead, Ferrari should have let Massa win. or if they wanted to “fix the result” there were more covert ways of doing things like fumbling over wheelnut in pitstop, or communicate “Engine issues” to their driver (ala Redbull to Mark Y’day) and make the switch.
One Wrong Handshake with wrong person and Hero became destined to be villian for life… life in F1 circus. I am sure Brits will only rest after driving the Spaniard out of the circus, but then better careers have been sabotaged by this Press, just another I guess, at least he has two championships that can’t be taken away from him (not that it won’t be tried).
Many pundits & journo’s came out after crash gate saying that they had a fleeting suspicion at the time but dismissed it. Most seemed to go down the though lines of: ‘what an amazinging fortuitous coincidence that piquet should crash at just the right time to help alonso – could it have been deliberate. Nope – it would be too fantastical’.
For you to have imdeiately have jumped to the correct assumption is amazing. Safety cars are lotteries – it helps jump some to the front, and shoves others to the back. Statistically, if a driver has a smash causing a SC, there is a good chance that it would massively help his teamate.
Whilst there sure is a lot of skulduggery in F1, crashgate took it to another, previously fairly unthinkable, level. Sure drivers had deliberately crashed in the past – Schuey was particulaly talented, as was Senna, but normally under exceptional circs – last race of the season and a crash would deliver the driver his ultimate goal – a world championship.
But to risk one’s life, and others, by cold bloodedly crashing into a wall for no real imediate personal advantage, and to have decided to do so 24 hours in advance – madness. And to have asked someone else to do so, knowing that at the very least it would mentally scar them for life should be a lock upable offence.
i have to disagree with this one. if you want to talk about “win at all costs”, then what was sebastien vettel doing off the line, giving alonso a good glimpse of the sponsorship on the concrete wall? the same move that failed against webber in silverstone
just shows Vettel doesn’t have any favourites – treats everyone the same.
I have to agree with you on this. I was an Alonso fan/supporter until the pit-lane incident in Hungary 2007, not because I am a Hamilton fanboy but because it was an underhanded attempt to influence the results, I have been disinterested in him and have a similar, unfounded and somewhat irrational, “meh” feeling towards him.
I do think that the “killer” instinct is a must as a gp driver but there are some lines you don’t cross and interfering with your teammates Quali/Race is one.
This stunt sealed it for me too. Alonso has the skill to win on the track- why sully your record by blocking your teammate in the pits? Can’t help but wonder if the whole spygate thing was a retaliation by Alonso.
If ferrari cares so much about winning the constructors championship, they shouldn’t care which order the 1-2 came in. This was purely a “who they want to brand more as a ferrari driver” decision. Personally, I think Alonso is a douche ever since the press conference where he said Hamilton should let him by in the first turn. He expects to be the number one driver everywhere he goes. Massa has a chip on his shoulder ever since missing out on the championship by one point. But every time I hear Alonso on the radio it’s “let me by”, “this is ridiculous”; if he wants to be a proper world champion again, do it on the track. Stop asking the team to let his team mate through. Ferrari has always been a team of a clear number 1 and number 2 driver. This was easy in the Schumacher years, but both Alonso and Massa want that driver’s championship. I think we’re going to hear more of Alonso complaining on the radio.
It’s a similar feeling that many get with Schumi. Not exactly the same but similar.
And the fanatism of his fans describe him a little also.
They even accused you of racism. Of all things.