Report claims Alonso demanded No. 1 status at McLaren
July 29, 2010 by SJ Skid
Filed under People & Events, Top Story
We’ve talked a lot here about the overheated British press and its reaction to the German Grand Prix and the Ferrari “team order” incident.
I suppose the only way the British media could have gotten more in a lather would have been the inclusion of Michael Schumacher. As it were, two of the Brit press’s favorite targets, Fernando Alonso and Ferrari, were involved.
Can you feel the temperatures rising?
Well, at risk of fanning those flames, I point you to a report in the Daily Mirror — yes, yes, the paragon of journalistic virtue and values — that claims Alonso demanded clear No. 1 status three years at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The same grand prix we’re heading to in a few hours.
Given that coincidence, I can understand where the British press would dredge the issue up again. But we all know there’s some ulterior motives here, and not just the motive to get a great story and the resulting page views / paper buys.
Here are the juicy bits:
Fernando Alonso demanded McLaren force Lewis Hamilton to play second fiddle, it is alleged today.
The double world champion’s Ferrari team were fined after benefitting from team orders in Germany on Sunday.
But Mirror Sport can exclusively reveal that this is not the first time Alonso has been linked to such a controversy.
Paddock sources say he had talks with McLaren bosses Martin Whitmarsh and Ron Dennis on the morning of the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix.
[snip]
It is claimed that on the morning of the event he confronted the team and wanted to be given preferrential treatment on the track over his rookie team-mate, but that McLaren refused to do so. And months later they lost the world title by a single point. Alonso’s manager, Luis Abad, denied the 2007 claim when he said: “I don’t want to talk about it but in any case, it’s not true.”
Last night team boss Whitmarsh refused to comment specifically on that day in Hungary three years ago.
[snip]
“Had we leaned to the advantage of one of our two drivers that year – and there were lots of temptations to do so – then it would have made enough of a difference to have acquired the extra point to have won the championship.
“During that phase I remember talking to the drivers and their management and saying what a great driver would want to do is look at himself in the mirror and say ‘I have won this world championship on merit’ and not by the team leaning one way and giving him an advantage.
“If McLaren won a championship where I think we did something dodgy to achieve it… if you did the record book might show it but in your heart I don’t think you would have the same feeling of pleasure.
“If you win against the odds it is slightly more enjoyable. If you win when you have swayed it to your advantage by cheating or doing something unsporting, you would not feel so good.”
So, first question: Do you read Whitmarsh’s comments as tact confirmation of Alonso’s demands? I think the story clearly is trying to lean readers that direction. Do you buy it?
Second question: If true, does it change your opinion of Alonso? Given that I just laid out my concerns about Alonso, I think it’s probably fair for me to answer. No. I think given the situation, his coming off his world championships at Renault, it is entirely legitimate that a competitive Alonso would ask for the team’s total commitment and backing. Even to the detriment of his rookie team mate.
That’s what Schumacher would have done. And Ayrton Senna. And Alain Prost. And if not every other world champ, than just about every one.
Last question: We all know how badly things ended with Alonso’s tenure at McLaren. While the situation is different now (I doubt many would say Ferrari’s support for Felipe Massa equals McLaren’s for Hamilton), do hints from this story give you any thought of “uh oh, here we go again?” Could the German Grand Prix incident cause a serious rift, an unrepairable one, at Ferrari?
And if so, what happens? Who goes? (Are you sure, for sure sure, it’s Massa?)
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Hummm….I’m more tempted to say it was a explosive situation badly managed by all parties – everything that comes out after is calculated positioning.
But like you say, it’s two of the brit press faves in the cross hairs – Alonso and Ferrari, and so we have it. I think if they could have had the order originating from Schumacher it might have blown a few of the journalist’s minds.
We might get something approaching the whole story from these people when they are retired and mellowed out – but I doubt it whilst they are still in the F1 world.
Man… what a reasonable response. Where’s the fun in that? :)
“Man… what a reasonable response”
Don’t worry – The Usual Suspects wont be able to resist. :)
See below
What a relief and great way to wake up today! :)
The Daily Mirror is really going for link bait on that story they released. The British press has runaway with Alonso and Ferrari.
“…calculated positioning.” is right. I don’t have much else to say.
I’m starting to get tired of the British press on this topic. :(
“never stoop to favouritism?” Really? DC and Kovy you guys agree?
Maybe Whitmarsh planted the story and then ‘refused to comment’ so no one would suspect he leaked it, huh ? Nicely done. Could it be he’s gutted that they backed the wrong horse who fducted it into the gravel trap in 2007 and cost Freddy the champ ?
“If McLaren won a championship where I think we did something dodgy to achieve it…”
really guys? really?
One hundred MILLION dollars is all I have to say to that.
also Red means stop Lewis.
And a few nice illegal undetectable elements banned in the Ferrari car along with that.
Wasn’t there some contract clause, when Alonso was released by McLaren to put a gag on him :-? Or is this contract one way, where McLaren insiders will keep leaking such “stories” while other party has to quietly abide the contract…
I trust that Alonso will act in the severest way possible, whatever the situation happens to be. I wouldn’t let him work at my lemonade stand without the security of having a lawyer to protect me from his wrath.
I have to admit, this was well played by McLaren. Run a story about how Alonso demanded number one status and you denied it at your own teams detriment. Well played indeed boys! Especially on the heels of the German GP and heading into the scene of the crime. Very well done.
Surely Alonso’s salary and the fact that he was 2x WDC over a rookie team mate would have meant that by default he would be #1 in that team.
With his skill and level of experience it should have been enough that season. I really wonder how it wasn’t.
Because Ron’s boy did ever so well. Let’s face it, if it had been DC or Kovi in the other Mclaren, Alonso may well be a three times WDC and still at Mclaren now!
Agreed
You guys do understand car setup and the years of experience and skill it takes to be able to develop and setup a car like Alonso or Schumi can, right? The problem wasn’t all with the on track speed of Lewis (he was very fast) and while surprised by it, I don’t think Alonso was expecting anything to be done about that. This issue of “equal drivers” extends off the track to car setup and when Alonso is told to give his setup info to the rookie who is clearly fast enough by his own right, it would irritate me as well… I just think this had more to do with off track handle holding then anyone every talks about.
Ah the fabulous 6 tenths
It’s surprising what you discover.
I didn’t realise they used to hold handles.
yep,i believe alonso could have done something like that,after what happened at the german gp
Alonso went to Maclaren knowing he would have to face a teammate with less skills than himself. He did not know it would be Lewis, and he knew for certain it would not be Kimi. He really did not have to ask that his no 1 status to be included in his contract. I doubt that Maclaren would have accepted such terms. No one expected Lewis to perform as he did. After Monaco, where Alonso won because of pre-agreed team strategy, it was his turn to pit first, the British press and fans all over the world demanded that Maclaren abandon team strategy and open the game up so that Lewis be given an equal chance. Imagine, a rookie winning against a two time world champion. What humiliation!!! It was clear for all carefull observes that something was going to break soon. Alonso would not risk been beaten by a rookie. Lewis was too impetuous and hungry, a bit arrogant, but the hell of a driver. He was, and still is, a quicker driver than Alonso is. Alonso had no option but to create a conflict situation, charge the team with favouritism, etc. Did he ask for no 1 status? I have no doubts he did. But I cannot prove it. Did he think he would get it? I do not think he is that naive. But he had to make his intentions to the team clear. Alonso is a driver who cannot function unless he is clearly no 1 in a team. His tenure in Renault, where poor Fissicella put in about 300 miles of test runs a week, the three top teams had no third car to do their testing and development, and his recent antics in Ferrari would strongly support this statement.
No! It cannot be possible! A two world champion claiming the nº1 status over a rookie to avoid what happened in the end: they lost for 1 point! No! I cannot believe! What a lack of ethics. What a criying boy!
perfect
I don’t exactly see what this article says different that what we all know except may be the Spanish fans. That the guy fought with the team NOT because he got second treatment but because he wanted 1st driver status.
You had to be blind not to realize it. The guy likes to get certain advantages. At start he didn’t make any demands because he never excepted a rookie to be on the same pace anyway. When he realized he was wrong in his assumptions he decided to go to the team and request preferential treatment so he won’t lose.
The team refused and with good reasons. From the moment they could see themselves that the young guy was as fast it would be too unfair to make him lose deliberately. They had a young gun with ambitions in there hands. They would have killed his spirit by making him play second role. And they could also lose the new best talent in F1 for treating him like that. Not to mention they operate in the concept of you have to win the number 1 spot and not demand it.
Not to mention they operate in the concept of you have to win the number 1 spot and not demand it.
>> Unless of course you are Martin Whitmarsh or Ron Dennis, I will consider this statement as convenient “ASSUMPTION” of a fanboy who justifies anything and everything done by his/her team.
You had to be blind not to realize it.
>> Body language of Ron Dennis and His then partner right from get go of season 2007 on every triumph of “Their Boy” versus the droop in Shoulders that Ron showed and sorry face he made every time Alonso came ahead of Lewis, provides substantiative evidence of Ron Dennis clearly favoring “His Find” over the naive two times WDC who shook hands with him and honored the verbal agreement he made with the Brit on Podium of 2005 race.
Errant assumptions lie at root of every F** ups, Alonso should have realized this and that he was not driving for the team that his boyhood idol drove, but for a team owned by Ron Dennis. He should have clearly got the clause on paper ahead of joining the team. The moment Ron saw his own protege was fast (and Marketable), Alonso was no more needed, He had served his purpose by helping team poach sponsors from rivals anyways.
Given the happy coincidence that Santander was acquiring British Bank in that period, assured that Santander had to stick with the British team and Lewis, so it didn’t matter anymore if Alonso was thrown on the curb…
Nice to read such a balanced diatribe. I bet you were celebrating last weekend.
Whitmarsh’s comments are older than this aren’t they and were a addressing a general question about team orders? It sounds like they’ve been stuck on the end to make a story when he hasn’t been specifically asked about “Alonso’s demands”
Journalistic garbage from the Mirror (big surprise)
LOL. Let’s dig up some quotes from the files on team orders? :)