Fernando, back to basics?

What I like about this clip is that you really get the feel of winter testing: early morning, fog, probably cold...
Fernando Alonso looked pretty relaxed stepping out of a Megane once again...he checks out the Audi R8 and goes about his business testing the new Renault R28. In Spain he still gets cheers worthy of Maranello tifosi. You can also catch s glimpse of the new Williams.




(thanks to Francesco for making this Valencia footage available)

Two big small mistakes.

Two fractions of a second, two drivers who just stepped outside the envelope that TINY bit, both with huge consequences for the Championship.

Kimi Raikkonen during qualifying in Monaco was a fraction early on the second Swimming Pool turn and hit the ARMCO, here is the onboard. The telemetry guys know for sure but I remember at the time it looked like he might have lost the rear just a fraction and that rotated the car enough to make him early. He got a lot of heat from the press for that mistake, but looking at it from his point of view would you be so hard?

When Fernando Alonso crashed on the flooded Fuji track it was also easy to criticize... after all, none of the other top guys crashed. But again, looking at the onboard you just have to say...luck of the draw. As with Ferrari, the Mclaren telemetry guys know the real truth, but I would guess it's fair to say that when a driver is pushing under those conditions, anything can happen.

Winter testing wrap up.

We don't get much coverage of winter testing in the US but elsewhere it is covered like baseball spring training might be here.

That Michael Schumacher was testing again was eclipsed by news of the Renault-Mclaren spy case verdict and how that will affect Fernando Alonso's future. Massa says he does not follow the Alonso soap opera except to say that Mclaren will be a weaker team for losing a top driver. The now more fluent in Italian Schumacher smirks, Trulli and Kubica play coy and claim ignorance.

As to why he's there, Schumacher explained:

"You know, I have spent so much time in Formula 1, it's clear that I love the sport and there are many things I still enjoy about it, like driving. It is a great pleasure to be able to drive without further responsibility and pressure for the next season, I just enjoy it, it is quite nice!"

He goes on to warmly praise Kimi Raikkonen for stepping up for the team after he and Ross Brawn left. Of Lewis Hamilton, who recently declared his intention of eclipsing all of Schumacher's records, he says "a very good preparation combined with a natural talent and you see the results"

The second part of the Spanish language clip is raw footage of the cars testing, check out the extra large data aerial mounted on many of the cars and also the giant sensors on the Renault's left wheels. You can see how the various drivers are coping with not having electronic aids... Hamilton looks like he was torture testing the rear tires a bit, hopefully Mclaren was practicing figuring out the right time to bring him in and change them!



Jerez testing 1. from Axis on Vimeo.


Jerez winter testing 2. from Axis on Vimeo.

That's news to us...

That's the official response to the rumored offer of a one year deal Mclaren was to have made to none other than Señor Ferdinando Alonso.

What's funny about this is that in their hearts of hearts they both have to know that it is actually the solution that makes the most sense for all involved. Given his insistence on a short term deal, Alonso would find even a grumpy crewed Mclaren a far superior ride to anything else that's not painted Scuderia Red. For Mclaren, even a foot stomping Alonso would mean not having issues with their sponsors and let's not forget, with two of the top three drivers in the field, their best chance for redemption and winning the championships in 2008.

Alonso will certainly wait until the upcoming McRenault-gate hearing before making any decision.

Renault give Alonso an ultimatum, three years or nothing

"Three years or nothing", reportedly tired of negotiations that's the ultimatum from Carlos Ghosn, president of Renault gave Fernando Alonso. Now Alonso has to weigh a bird in the hand vs two in the Ferrari bush...

Quick F1 update: Fernando's Package ad Schumi's Axis.

As F1 addicts I'm sure you already know that, perhaps as a comeback to some delirious corners of the motoring press, good old Michael Schumacher will get first crack at finding the correct "axis of oversteer" on the new 2008 spec Ferrari F1, now minus traction control.








I'll have to go back and research this but I believe that neither Raikkonen nor Massa have ever driven an F1 car without TC. Having Schumi set a baseline should be quite useful for Ferrari.

Maybe Mclaren will pick up the idea and have the freshly retired Mika Hakkinen do the same for them.




The other bit of news is that Spanish sponsors have apparently put together a €62M package to have Fernando Alonso land at Renault. Movistar, Mutua Madrileña and BBVA (banking) would pay for Alonso's salary. One problem with this scenario is that the main title sponsor of Renault is ING, another banking concern which might not accept having Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria on board.
Theoretically, Alonso should decide by the end of the day today (Tuesday) if to sign with the French team. Stay tuned.

Divorce, F1 style. (now with two updates!)

No cactus at Mclaren, the obvious has been finalized. Obvious since the announcement that Mercedes had decided to give up on Alonso in mid October, inevitable since Ron Dennis' commented in China that Mclaren was racing against the Spaniard.

Interesting to see develop will be Mclaren's relations with their Spanish sponsors Banco Santander and Mutua Madrileña as it sounds like they are staying with Mclaren from the official press release. The Woking team must have the better contract lawyers as I cannot imagine the Spanish sponsors staying because of De La Rosa.... (unless Pedro got the race drive as part of the deal?)

And what to make of Alonso not announcing next year's team? Is there a real possibility Fernando might not drive in 2008? I doubt it, but if he does not have a signed contract in the bag (and why would he not announce it if he did?) he sure lost any negotiating leverage he had left. Now Alonso will have only his talent as a bargaining chip, nobody is going to hire him for his personality or because he is the reigning world champion and now, who would hire him just to take him away from Mclaren?
Sounds like a team will end up with a bargain and perhaps Alonso will seek his happiness over money for the coming years....then again he might join Toyota!

Anyway, Nano....remember when you were a happy guy kicking the great Schumacher's butt rather than kicking a can down the road sulking? Remember when you did that first test for Cesare Fiorio at Minardi? Well here's to you finding that happy version of yourself. Put it this way, even Kimi is smiling after his years at Mclaren!

UPDATE: Alonso has not lost all his sponsors, Mutua Madrileña announced that it will continue to support him but Banco Santander will stay with Mclaren.
Meanwhile the issue with Renault is said to be that Alonso is only willing to sign a short term contract, perhaps just one year as rumors of BMW's interest in the double world champion gain traction. Some voices say the Bavarians would have taken Alonso in 2007 already had his obligations with Mclaren been resolved sooner.
BMW, as much as they deny it, do need a star driver to move the team to the next level, right now there are only three top tier drivers/stars in F1 ... two are taken.

UPDATE II: The Alonso at Red Bull rumors can be put to bed, as the Austrian tema has officially confirmed their 2008 driver lineup of Webber and Coulthard.... Renault, Toyota and Williams are still in the running with Flavio Briatore apparently ready to give Alonso pretty much anything he could possibly want down to the specified bust size of his grid girl....

Rumors of Alonso and Williams

Well, they do have an open seat, they do have a good engine and it is after all, the great Williams team. However, they do also have a very good driver in Rosberg to complicate issues if, as everyone thinks, Alonso is looking for a team which will give him clear #1 status.

For Williams, having a two time world champion would make the team very attractive to first tier sponsors but I cannot imagine him giving Ron Dennis the cash he must be asking for the Alonso contract....unless... they do a swap with Rosberg.

It is worth noting that Alonso's manager Louis Garcia is saying that Mclaren cannot "sell" Alonso's 2008 contract without mutual consent and that as of now Fernando will drive in what will have to be called "team from hell" next season... ouch, for all involved!

Alonso Funnies.

Could it be that the Spanish have more of a sense of humor than the British when it comes to their national hero? C'mon UK readers...send us some Hamilton funnies!

Kimi and Hamilton.

Someone is either very silly on the Ferrari pit wall and/or someone is very, very clever at Mclaren's.
Twice during today's qualifying Hamilton came out of the pits right in front of Raikkonen while the Finn was on a fast lap. Not surprising, the Ferrari was delayed each time. Considering how easily the FIA has dispensed penalties for "impeding" in the past, todays's situation makes you wonder.
For sure it's a continuation of the mind games the two were playing during practice, where Hamilton brake checked Kimi at least once. Hamilton/McLaren clearly see Kimi as more of a threat than Alonso, who I'm sure will be testing some new superlight experimental engine components tomorrow.

Massa, once again was brilliant on his home track and tomorrow we will have the two red cars on the clean side and the two silver ones on the dirty side. The first Senna S will be amazing as the likelihood of Alonso going for it on the inside and the consequent mayham is deliciously high!

Mercedes boss call it quits on Alonso

The Spanish "La Marca" quotes Norbert Haug regarding Fernando Alonso:

"I think it's right to put an end to this relationship. Sometimes the correct thing is to go your separate ways, like with Montoya last year."

Alonso free to go.

How Fernando Alonso will become World Champion.

Using our specially modified DeLorean with GroundControl suspension and we were able to come back from the future with a spoiler from this Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix.
Fernando will find his "unfair advantage" in the form of a new race engineer with special powers!


Milagro!!!! from Axis on Vimeo.

Where is the Championship won?

Is Fernando Alonso so off base lamenting a world championship decided "a priori" when the big boss is quoted so?:

"It is painfully obvious to me that the right guy to be world champion is Lewis. In fact my main fear would be if he didn't win it. Kimi Raikkonen barely talks to anyone and as such has done little for the sport, and as for Fernando Alonso, in his two years as world champion he has done nothing. He hasn't really been an F1 campaigner at all, but if Lewis wins the drivers' championship he will act like a real world champion. He will know exactly what is expected of him and what he has to do."

the Guardian

time to resurrect this graphic?

Monza wrap

Everyone will talk about the pass on Kimi Raikkonen, a move I see as silly by Lewis Hamilton who despite having a car 2 seconds a lap faster, chanced throwing his whole season away on a high risk pass. Add that Kimi was sore enough from the Saturday accident to not be able to hold his head up under braking and did not put up any kind of fight and I think there was too much credit given. A much better move by Hamilton was on the start: he failed miserably at the "Schumi chop" of Massa and got passed, but then he was brilliant in the first corner where he not only passed the brazilian on the outside but almost got Alonso as well.

With all the Hamilmania, it will be easy to forget great drives on this week end: obvioulsy Alonso who outqualified Hamilton while on a heavier fuel load. Raikkonen, who drove in pain and in a car that certainly had issues and could not ride curbs. Rosberg and Kubica both had some great moments and put on great shows, the first with Jensen Button and the second with a great move on Rosberg in the final laps.

We saw Ron Dennis cry after the race and we saw Alonso not swing by the pit wall to acknowledge the team at the checkered flag, both rather extra ordinary events in this soap opera season.

And then there is next Thursday...

Damocles' Catbird

Considering the new "super secret mystery evidence" that will come into play thursday September 13 in Paris and the possibility Mclaren may be banned from Formula 1 for 2008, is Fernando in the catbird seat if he has a back room deal in the works with Renault?
Who would benefit the most from this nasty affair? hmmmm.

©Cahier Archive

Mclaren Telemetry

Cruel, cruel internet: here is a picture floating around out there....

Gag Rule

While most of the UK based press is simply reporting that Alonso and Hamilton skipped going to the track on the Thursday before the Turkish GP, only Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport goes a tad further and reveals a a strict keep your trap shut diktat from McLaren with regards to the only two topics anyone wants to write about: the Feud and the Scandal.

There is a lot to read between the lines in this clip, edited from a news feed of a Vodafone promotional event. To me, for having just returned from a holiday, Alonso does not look like a particularly happy man on the eve of his 100th GP start.

After a little karting demo, the press is instructed not to ask either of the questions they really want to ask. Telling is the exchange (volume is really low but you can hear it)between one of the team's handlers and the reporter from Tele5 Spain. The reporter is told Alonso will not be available because "this is the first chance that everybody has had to get together and they need to have this conversation within the team"...(!) . His pleas for anything juicy fall on deaf ears and we see Alonso answer some standard inane questions "..so Fernando, how do you like Turkey?"

But perhaps most telling is his body language at the end of the clip when on his way out he looks at the spanish journalists and shrugs... what do you think?

Spare a kind thought..

Let's pause for a second and have a kind thought for the unglamorous end of the F1 grid... These poor saps usually get written off and serve as comic relief for the broadcast color commentators (anyone remember "Johnny Carwash*"?). OK sure, they may not be the very best but what they have to work with is no Mclaren. At times, just holding the car on the road is victory for these guys.

Here is a qualifying lap with Adrian Sutil in the Spyker-Ferrari at the Hungaroring. The car is just a disaster, it understeers then is oversteers, it's nervous over the curbs....nasty...Contrast with Alonso's clip, a different universe. You can have both clips running at once and the difference is stunning...you just feel bad for Sutil.

On a track where the fastest time is achieved by diving to the apex early and hugging the shortest path, poor Sutil must dream of actually being able to hold his car on line, any line!





* Giovanni Lavaggi

All in the family: more August F1 gossip...

Alonso can forget getting the #1 driver spot, not when young Lewis Hamilton makes moves like this: he is apparently dating Sara Ojjeh, the daughter of Mansour Ojjeh. Ojjeh is an early financer of Ron Dennis' F1 venture and owns a 15% stake in the Mclaren Group.

According to the Daily Mirror Lewis in spending a few days on board Ojjeh's 235 foot yacht Kogo and there are pictures of the couple looking like more than the official "just friends".

Fernando's summer from hell is not getting any better!


Update: Spains's Marca has Alonso turning down an offer to join the party on Kogo and a chance to work out an "understanding" with the team and Hamilton. Make of it what you will...

Alonso in, Todt out in 2008 at Ferrari

So the latest and greatest Formula 1 silly season rumor goes like this: according to El Periodico de Catalunya, Fernando Alonso is headed for Ferrari.

Wait you say, didn't Jean Todt say that Alonso will never drive a red car, at least as long as he's there?

Right, well the now rabidly anti Mclaren Spanish press has thought of everything: in 2008 Luca di Montezemolo would fire Todt to hire Alonso along with the whole heavyweight Spanish sponsorship (Banca Santander, Telefonica, Repsol etc.).

Always according to El Periodico, Todt's job would go to the returning Ross Brawn along with good old Schumacher, at the moment apparently not satisfied with his role within the Scuderia.

The Spanish daily concludes by offering that this "plan" would solve three problems now affecting the team: Todt's obsessions (not wanting Alonso on the team and presumably wearing sweaters in 100 degree heat). The position of Todt's son, NIcholas who is Massa's manager but also in charge of driver development, and Massa's inability to win the championship.

What do you want...it's august and there are two more week ends of dead air to fill!