Comments on: Another PR disaster for McLaren

By: Johnny

Johnny — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:16:32 +0000

I am glad LH doesnt defer to Alonso. This is a sport after all and Lewis has been leading the championship for 7 races. Alonso is entitled to nothing. He won the last 2 years with the best car, now that he has an actual challenge he has done nothing but whine and make questionable and hotheaded decisions. I agree with Tyrel, please Alonso go back to Renault and lets see Gary Paffet get a seat at Mclaren. As for David’s point that Hamilton is stealing telemetry to set up the car. They are both knew to the car and Alonso had more trouble adapting to it and the new tires than Hamilton did early on. I think that is just hometown reporting just like they are doing in England for LH.

By: Ade

Ade — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:08:36 +0000

Hello David, indeed, I remember Niki Lauda saying it’s benefitcial for LH to have the champion as teammate. Also there are F1 fans who believe that FM improved/learn a lot from MS’s driving too in 06′.

But if LH can use FA’s telemetry to improve and beat FA, but FA himself couldn’t do much out of his own data, then you can not blame FA’s failure sorely on the sharing of telemetry. Also in quali at Hungary, the fact that LH used super soft while FA stay with soft, may suggest LH also has his own ideas.

BTW thanks for the explaination Keith, though I still don’t get it. I’ll try to forget about it, LOL.

By: David

David — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:45:13 +0000

Hello guys

Here in Spain the press is saying that LH has benefited from the fact that there’s a reigning champion, who knows how to properly set the car. Basically, that LH is using FA telemetry to his advantage. What do you think of that? And BTW, I’m not flaming, I just want to hear the other camp on this regard

By: Tyrel

Tyrel — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 15:54:26 +0000

Alonso just likes when he wins every race easily, i still remembered the way he celebrated when MS car stopped just some laps before the finish line and he knew that he will be champion…as if he overtake MS car during the race in the final lap. To my knowledge its him who started all these earful…and all started when LH began to win, i am a big fan of McLaren and i really hope he join Renault next year!

By: Nesa

Nesa — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:19:01 +0000

Am I the only one who thinks that McLaren is ruining the best championship in years?

By: Dan M

Dan M — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:41:19 +0000

It has been said that Lewis immediately called the team on the radio when he slipped off the track in Germany. So its funny that he shows such “supreme confidence” when the previous race he needed so much help from the team. Mind you he was also praised for thinking his way through such a situation, which he didn’t.

If he was upset that he didn’t get his extra lap in Germany due to the car failing, this is not going to help things at all. McLaren have two very capable drives and either could win the Championship, if I were Ron I would put all my support in Alonso. Lewis is just a rookie and needs to be put in his place. Hes getting a little cocky for my liking.

Alonso has also preformed under pressure and shown he is capable of winning when things don’t go his way. Lewis may be fast but it is in a car that is fairly easy to drive and he has had some great luck. I think he will always be a great diver but I would take Alonso in a heart beat.

By: Melvyn Chambers

Melvyn Chambers — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:31:40 +0000

FERRARI v McLAREN
If it has been deemed that the McLaren Team are responsible for the actions of an individual team member. Should Ferrari not also be responsible of its own team members?

By: Alex Andronov

Alex Andronov — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:06:33 +0000

Yeah Ade I’m sure Keith’s right on this, he’s talking about Ron.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 06:33:25 +0000

I think he’s talking about his mechanics, and ‘higher than them’ means Ron Dennis & co.

By: Ade

Ade — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:08:59 +0000

That’s the problem of a super team, RD has two best drivers, one thinks “Iâ€™m too important for you to tell me what to do”, an other thinks “I have two championships, tell him to move away”.

When AP and AS took each other out at first corner, I sure many people were thinking what an disaster for McLaren too.

BTW sorry I have a question to ask, what do you guys think LH meant on the PC:
“In terms of speaking to the team, I spoke to everyone, I have told everyone the situation, apologised if they feel I have done something against them but this is the way it is. It is higher than them if you know what I mean.”

Higher than them,I’m struggling to understand it, LH think he’s higher/bigger than the team??? Wow, I’m afraid LH maybe the first McLaren driver ever that I don’t like/won’t support, no matter what LH may achieve.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:08:42 +0000

Disobeying a direct team order when it is to your detriment is, if anything a sign of supreme confidence. A message that says “I’m too important for you to tell me what to do”. From someone of lesser talent, its merely a sign of arrogance and foolhardiness.

From an Alonso or a Hamilton, its a sign of a driver that knows their team can’t afford to punish them. Senna would have done it (and arguably in Imola in 1989 he kind of did.) Lauda would have done it. Such a fiercely competitive environment is no place for an “after you Claude” attitude.

Sadly, nice guys do come second. This weekend Hamilton showed he’s not a nice guy. And in terms of what he might go on to achieve, that might just be a very important signal.

By: gary

gary — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 22:00:30 +0000

Disobeying a direct team order is unprofessional and it just goes to show how inexperienced Lewis Hamilton is. It’s a two lane road to success in F1 – the team and the driver. Never a smart idea to do what LH did. And if that was what came out of his mouth after qualifying, shame on him. If it wasn’t for Mclaren or Ron Dennis, he would still be racing in a go kart. What an unappreciative and arrogant guy! Somehow, I DO NOT want LH to win the championship simply because he’s forgetting he’s only a ROOKIE. He should start acting like one and know his place in the team.

By: Number 38

Number 38 — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:54:29 +0000

My opinion is Hamilton sees the championship in sight and thinks the team ought to kiss up to him. His conduct in a couple of recent events indicates he’s just a pansy like so many others. He’s the media darling but he’s also starting to wilt like a weed without water. Many ask, “both McLarens were on the front row, what’s the flap?”
Well 9 of 11 races this year have been WON from pole, F1 races are typically mere high speed parades and with those odds the pole counts! The race is often won on Saturday.

By: Ade

Ade — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:48:23 +0000

Yes, since 2 papers, The Times and The Daily Mail, claimed exactly the same thing. Even though I’d rather be disapointed by the press intead of by LH and his filthy mouth.(BTW I’m not a FA fan, I just don’t like LH’s reaction to team’s decisions at both Monaco and yesterday)

IMO whatever RD told LH to do, he must follow. Yes LH has huge talent, but where would he be if it wasn’t RD who supported him, paid for his earlier motosport career, and put him in a McLaren? LH should have showed a lot more appreciation toward RD/McLaren.

By: Ben Goldberg

Ben Goldberg — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:53:21 +0000

Ade, do you think Lewis really said that? That conversation seems made for selling papers.

By: Craig

Craig — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:35:36 +0000

There is surely a case for all team radio to be made open and public – even if it’s not actually broadcast on TV, if the TV people have access then they can pick out the bits they want to relay to the viewing public.

I doubt it would ever happen though!

As for McLaren’s PR, Ron Dennis’s inability to speak in plain English is surely what holds them back most – and Lewis Hamilton seems to be picking this up too. They are a bit like politicians, they speak a lot without actually telling you anything – and their explanations often make you more confused than you were before!

By: Ade

Ade — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:26:53 +0000

BTW LH sould put off his mask of smiling face, what’s with “I’m not angry just curious”? The way he talked to his boss RD is just not acceptable, regardlsss what the team has done to him.

BTW great site you have.

By: Ade

Ade — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 11:22:21 +0000

Hello, I don’t agree with the solution you suggest that “they could have simply arranged to pit him earlier in todayâ€™s race”, IMO you can’t balance qualify situation later in the race, because the grid position has impact on the race start, FA could be overtaken starting from 2nd and get stuck and never be able to challenge LH, to pit LH earlier would then make no sense. IMO they did the right thing, what should be corrected in quali must be corrected in quali. But FA shouldn’t have acted on his own.