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Will Alonso leave McLaren at the end of the season?
Yes 7 (41.2%)
No 10 (58.8%)
Total Votes: 17
Alonso's future
Topic Started: Aug 12 2007, 12:44 PM (430 Views)
Red Andy
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Due to circumstances beyond my control I missed the Hungarian GP, but I've read quite a lot about the penalties handed out to Alonso and McLaren for Fernando's pit lane shenanigans in Q3 last Saturday. Having looked around the reaction to the situation on this board, I've seen quite a few people suggesting that Alonso might leave McLaren at the end of the year.

My question is, do people really think he will go? And if so, where?

Personally I can't see Alonso leaving at all. He is still favourite to be world champion, in my opinion, and although embroiled in a close title battle, is still driving well and fighting hard. Even if things are not so rosy between him and his teammate, that doesn't seem - to me, anyway - sufficient reason for him to leave. McLaren have given him a car that he can challenge for the title with, and a team that know how to win and enjoy seeing him do it.

There seems to be this perception that Alonso feels insecure with Lewis Hamilton as a teammate, someone stronger than any teammate he has had in the past. But is that the case? If I were Fernando, I would simply be more motivated to go out and beat Lewis.

In short, I don't see Alonso jumping ship at the end of the season, and I'm at a bit of a loss to understand why some other people do. Due to his status as teammate and title rival to Britain's Golden Boy Hamilton, he is portrayed in the British press as being the villan - but looking past that, I see no reason why Alonso should leave McLaren for any other team.
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flood1
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Kimi has said that McLaren are too corporate and controlling. Maybe that's what FA doesn't like. Hamilton has proven to be a surprise to him and that's tough on his hugh ego. I don't know if he'll go elsewhere, but drivers have dropped out for a season to avoid driving with a teamate in an environment that he didn't like.

In economics it's call the "crisis of rising expectations."
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Monty
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I think he will but will he be able to live with being branded a "coward". Renault seem the obvious choice and as we saw the last 3 or 4 years he really does work well with the team and he feels comfortable there. Its the best place for him to be as renault with a bit more money will be able to challenge for championship again.
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Piquet Jnr
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http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61415

This interview may give you an insight into why there are rumours alonso will not be at mclaren much longer

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Red Andy
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I don't see anything in that article suggesting that Alonso is about to leave McLaren. He is critical of Hamilton's behaviour in Q3 - which, if it is true that Lewis repeatedly disobeyed the instructions of the team, is perfectly justified - and he says that he doesn't know if he can continue in the same situation for another three years, but there's no hint of an immediate exit.

I think that, as ever with Alonso, this whole issue is just a storm in a teacup, blown out of proportion by the media, who are intent on casting Alonso as the villain in all this. To me Alonso seems more irritated at the actions of the Stewards - and so he should be, in my opinion - than of the team or Hamilton. And it's not the first time Alonso has had grievances with the Stewards.
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Piquet Jnr
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I agree with you but the press pounce on any dont know answer and your rumours start from there and when u combine that with ron dennis's statement to itv and rumours that he has told both drivers to like it leave you get chinese whispers and alonso is as good as gone
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safc_fan89
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If he wants his reputation to stay intact, he should move, IMO. Hamilton seems to be using the media to turn everyone against Alonso. If they are not in the same team, that will stop, and Alonso will be more focused on his overall driving. BMW would suit him nicely and I wouldn't mind seeing him there. I'm fed up of the bickering between him and Hamilton.
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Red Andy
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It would be the same whoever Hamilton's teammate was. Ron is hardly likely to employ a lapdog for Lewis, so presumably anyone partnering Hamilton in a McLaren would be reasonably highly rated.

Alonso was the villain last year for being the main challenge to Michael Schumacher, and he is the villain this year for being teammate and title rival to Hamilton. But if Alonso moved to another team, and was still challenging for the title, he would be lambasted just the same by the media. As long as he is there to challenge the media's Golden Boy, he will be given a hard time in the press.
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ppparkinson9
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Red Andy,Aug 12 2007
04:06 PM
Alonso was the villain last year for being the main challenge to Michael Schumacher

Surely you mean hero?

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Red Andy
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When Alonso passed someone under yellow flags in practice for the Hungarian GP last year, and then performed the unprecedented action of a "brake-test" on Robert Doornbos in the normal braking zone for a corner, I recall reading several times over in the media that it was Alonso "cracking under the pressure" of Schumacher's renewed title assault. Never mind that come Sunday, Schumacher tried to take out three drivers in separate incidents. Alonso was the one "cracking under the pressure."

The same thing happened again when Alonso criticised his team for screwing up his pit stop in China. He was accused of "cracking under the pressure" once again. Clearly Alonso was no hero to the media at the end of 2006, especially given the way his quotes were frequently taken out of context.

And, as we all know, Alonso was no hero to the Stewards last year either, hence the ridiculous penalties in Hungary and Italy.
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everythingoes
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The most important factor in deciding whether or not Alonso stays or leaves has nothing to do whatsoever with Lewis Hamilton. It has everything to do with how his relation with Ron Dennis is. If, in his mind, Alonso sees Ron being partial, or if his relationship with Ron has deteriorated beyond repair, he will leave.
Having a stormy or less than perfect relationship with a team-mate is managable, but not a bad one with the team boss.
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safc_fan89
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I think that if Mclaren decide one needs to leave, it would be Alonso they choose. It's impossible to say what is going on behind the scenes, but the signs are that Alonso and Dennis are NOT getting on well and tbh I would be very surprised if he sees out his contract with them. ETG, I think it DOES have something to do with Hamilton. If Alonso or Hamilton's contribution starts to be affected because of their warring with each other, something would have to be done by the team. Alonso has started to show that he will take no prisoners, and from past events that can be a bit of a problem! See Senna and Schumacher.
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Paul_Murtagh
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He might walk if he wins the championship against what he sees as a favoured team-mate. But I don't think he will as he will be branded a quitter when the going gets tough and he will want to prove that he can be mentally strong against a strong team-mate
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Rob
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He will stay at McLaren. Remember you heard it here 1,325th. <thumbsup>
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Mrs Shrek
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The latest rumour is that he and Nico could 'swap' places next year Link here ...guess we'll have to wait and see what really happens.
<blink>
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