Fernando Alonso, recently let go from the telenovela known as the McLaren F1 Team, is in a bit of a quandary. He's looking for a team that can keep him at the top of the standings, but he only wants to sign a contract for a year. That's because the teams he really wants to join, Ferrari or BMW-Sauber, can't even think of making a move until the end of 2008 (and in Ferrari's case, really until the end of 2009). However, the only teams he's got a chance of signing with -- Renault, Red Bull, or Toyota -- have unresolved situations, aren't winners, and won't accept the one-year contract stipulation.
Enter McLaren, which still has a cockpit open, but no one worthy to fill it. The driver the team really wants, Nico Rosberg, would require the jaws of life to be pried out of his Williams contract. The only pilots left are unknowns or as yet unproven. But the driver market will open up in a year... so if they could just find a proven winner who only wanted a one-year contract... then maybe... just maybe....
And that's how Spanish newspaper Diario As has come to report that Alonso's camp is in talks with Ron Dennis and McLaren about going back to the team. Alonso's people have, incredibly, engaged in the dialog, but have passed McLaren a list of conditions such as allowing Alonso to decide his race strategy. Nobody believes the reunion is actually going to happen, although more outlandish things have occurred in F1. Be that as it may, the fact that it's gotten this far is what puts the silly in silly season.
[Source: F1-Live]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
geo.stewart @ Dec 5th 2007 5:55PM
who cares, I want Lewis Hamilton in NASCAR.
Now.
He is way too good for open wheel.
And for all those about to bash NASCAR, its overriding attribute that makes it better than the other pro-circuits is that it centers on the fans, less now than before but still way more than the others.
Yago Bal @ Dec 5th 2007 6:15PM
You're right.
That's why it's a "show" and not a "sport". Hamilton would be doing nothing over there...
(Unless you wait some 20 years until he's lazy and fat...)
DubLuv @ Dec 5th 2007 6:30PM
uhh, is that why when a driver can't cut it or gets fired from Formula 1, they go to Nascar? Or why a driver is viewed as "moving up" when/if he makes it to Formula 1?
Villeneuve, Montoya, etc, etc, get booted from F1 for not doing a good job, so they move into a harder form of motorsport? Mmmkay. Me thinks you've been drinking some of that KoolAid. Too good for open wheel?
Going in a circle in a Chevy is harder than a roadcourse, with open wheels, at the higher speeds than Nascar?
Got it!
Philthy @ Dec 5th 2007 8:43PM
I think the original poster is pretty ridiculous. Having said that, it should be pointed out that JP Montoya moved to NASCAR at a time when McLaren would have been happy to keep him and any other team would have been falling over themselves to sign him. Montoya's main reasons for leaving, as he told it, were that he wasn't having any fun in F1, there wasn't any comraderie in the paddock anymore, and NASCAR was overall a sport with a more positive vibe. F1 and stock car racing both serve very necessary, very different purposes, but you're an idiot if you think people only opt out of F1 because they can't "cut it."
geo.stewart @ Dec 5th 2007 9:28PM
MY point was that for his talent and appeal, he would do better in NASCAR, where the benefits (read money) would be better for him.
As for open wheel and stock car and which is harder, JPM says he has never worked harder than when he is in a NASCAR. which is harder, driving a Porsche full out around the ring or an Omni GLH? With Tony Stewart being the racer he is, if NASCAR was so easy, he would still be in open wheel where there would be a challenge.
that being said,I prefer a road course race but not one that is decided in qualifying or pit stops. There is less passing in open wheel than in NASCAR. And dont knock it till you try it (driving the oval instead of watching it)
Richard @ Dec 5th 2007 10:21PM
McLaren let JPM go! They didn't want to keep him at all. In fact, they couldn't wait to get rid of him.
McLaren can't deal w/ Latin temperaments. Ron doesn't know how to manage them. I think that the last time he had to deal with that situation was Senna (hot-headed, focused and brilliant) teamed with Prost - who is ever the gentleman.
If memory serves, Senna took Prost out in the last race and won the championship as he was leading before eliminating himself and Alain.
vkchu @ Dec 5th 2007 10:27PM
i say replace the stig w/ hamilton as top gear's in-house driver. he could probably knock a few secs off every single car on the list.
fm @ Dec 6th 2007 12:31AM
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLL dude you're HIGHlarious! NASCAR! STOP IT! You're killing me! ROFLMAO
James @ Dec 5th 2007 6:23PM
geo.stewart
I hope you are joking.
DubLuv @ Dec 5th 2007 6:33PM
forgot to mention that Nascar drivers do tend to be old, some fat, and I suppose not as talented more so than lazy. But close.
In contrast, F1 drivers are young and extremely fit.
thesawzall @ Dec 5th 2007 7:38PM
Just wait till NASCAR breaks out the new Driver Templates. I can see half the drivers not meeting spec!
Luis @ Dec 5th 2007 6:46PM
@geo.stewart. Keep dreaming on the Hamilton thing. And you've obviously NEVER been to a F1 event;I have never seen such a VARIETY of people together in one place to see, cheer, hear and smell it all in unison. I have to agree with Yago Bal, NASCAR is a show, F1 is motorsport pure and simple.(Like, say wrestling and,well, anything else) Open wheel is where it all began.
judd @ Dec 5th 2007 6:47PM
He's a rotten apple. I wouldn't want him to spoil my team. Send him on his merry way or try MotoGP since he thinks he can do it.
Chris Vitale @ Dec 5th 2007 7:24PM
Is it just me, or is F1 a soap opera? I don't follow it, but every time I read something on it, it's nothing but rumors, who said what, who did what, etc...
tpp @ Dec 5th 2007 8:13PM
And Nascar isn't?
When it's not two rednecks pulling punches or banging on each other's cars, it's the two rednecks' wives or pit crew or parents.
Chris Vitale @ Dec 5th 2007 8:16PM
I wouldn't know. I care even less about NASCAR than F1. At least F1 is exciting.
kurt @ Dec 5th 2007 8:20PM
Nelson Piquet Jr.?
Marcus Winkelhock?
Scott Speed?
There are plenty of decent F1 experienced drivers out there. Mclaren even has 2 or 3 test drivers who know the mp4-22 inside and out. Maybe Alonso is the best and most experienced but bring him back is going to be nothing but trouble.
Richard @ Dec 5th 2007 10:26PM
Nelsino is going to get the drive for Renault
Kovalainen is going ???
Sutil - I bet, will be brought in to partner w/ Lewis.
Ralph or Fisico to Force India? (Ralph)
Alonso to Renault for 2 years, then to The Scuderia.
kurt @ Dec 5th 2007 10:43PM
Sutil? No way he was a disappointment and is booked with Force India
Renault would be stupid to not re-sign Kovalainen, he picked up 30 points in his debut season. Considering Renault fielded some pretty pathetic cars this year he did a great job. That and I love the sound of Renault's pit radio "Keep pushing Mate!"
If McLaren can get him, they should; but Renault would be stupid to drop him for someone like Ralf, Liuzzi or making it 2 F1 rookies.
NewJerseyBMW @ Dec 5th 2007 11:47PM
Hamilton and Alonso need to ditch F1 and Nascar and enter Nopi natinal's drift competition!