German Car Forum

Interesting...

why would Fred go to Ferrari only to be paired with Kimi? Kimi is a faster driver than Alonso, he knows that.

also, Fred would want to go to a team where he'll get the No1 status. he's not gonna achieve that at Ferrari. Renault is the best call here, should he leave Mclaren.

i have a strong feeling, nothing's gonne change at the top, maybe, just a small chance of Fred leaving Mac and heading to Renault.

I disagree that Raikkonen is a faster driver, but I do agree such a pair would not be a good idea.
The Prost - Mansell experience has shown that.

Alonso has had enough problem with in house competition at Mclaren. There is no way he would want to go through the same trouble at Ferrari.

I think it's all bull.

I think he feels that anything would be better than his current situation at TOUI. Also, Kimi is not the Ferrari bosses' "baby" and pet development project. Even if he is pushed to the limit by Kimi, I doubt he will find the situation as untenable.

I also don't think Kimi is faster than Alonso. I think that's just BS that his management team sold to the F1 paddock. As soon as Kimi got into F1, there were stories about him looking like the next Senna. Perhaps his hype has something to do with him earning one of the most bloated salaries in F1 history, in my opinion. If I am a F1 team boss, I would not pay Kimi a rumored $35-50 million at gunpoint.

Is this price including the cost to buyout his TOUI deal? After the events at the Paris hearing, does Alonso need to be bought out or can he activate clauses that let him leave for free?

If $40 million is his salary, he snags a $20 million raise because most reports have his current TOUI pay at only $20 million. Given his performances this year on and off track, I wouldn't give him any raise at all.

Alonso is never going to Ferrari, he hates that team. Also, I doubt Ferrari would replace either of their drivers. Both have been driving the F2007 to its full potential.
Massa to Toyota? Nah, wouldn't think so.
I still actually belive that Alonso is staying at McLaren. I might get to eat that statement but it's what I think atm.

well, almost every F1 journalist thinks that Kimi is the fastest out there, even during the Schumacher era.


the difference between Kimi, Schumi and Fred is, Kimi just need a perfect car to drive the wheels outta it.

Schumi and Fred OTOH, understands the car, and can drive the car is almost any condition. thats why i think Fred is the best and the most complete driver out there at the moment, not the fastest, but the most complete driver.

it's his whiny attitude i can't stands, and that why i won't want to see him in my beloved Scuderia.

But Kimi was put on a pedestal since the day he entered F1 and needed to get a controversial super license grant to race. I don't put much stock in what F1 journalists say, especially after some British donkey said Hamilton was better than both Senna and Prost after like ten-races in an allegedly ripped-off car.

I don't think Kimi has ever justified his praise. His ratio of wins to DNFs is still an eyesore. Heck, I don't think he is much faster than Massa, if at all.

If Ferrari does indeed sign Alonso, I will stop becoming a Ferrari supporter, that is how much I hate the guy. Alonso will not can get the number 1 status in the Ferrari team, cause Kimi will be there to show him who is quicker. Also, why can't Ferrari just keep Massa. He is a fast driver, and he has the ability to match and perform better than Kimi from time to time.

I just realised something, Alonso already knows how everything works with the F2007, so he will probably fit right into the car if the impossible happens.

Agree with you on Massa. He is a steal at a $5-8 million salary. He does not trail Raikkonen by too many points, despite his mishaps this year.

I think Alonso would deserve No. 1 status. Arguably, he deserved it this year at TOUI. I'm not his biggest fan, but his contribution to the team's sponsorship kitty and car development should have prompted Mr. Integrity to make him No. 1. If Alonso already knows a lot, all the better. His skill can make the car better and hold it together in more races.

The quickest driver debate in any era is subjective. I don't think the quickest driver, if he is a lazy and useless tester and car developer, should instantly get No. 1 status.

thats a bit harsh

but seriously, i'd rate Kimster 2nd out there, behind Alonso on todays grid. but fastest overrall, he's surely numero uno.

i think he demonstrated enough back in 2005 how many times he came from behind the grid to win in a fragile Mclaren.

but in 2007, he seems to lack the fire he used to have like back in 2005. but since France, he's changed

i still will be Scuderia supporter. either i'll support Kimster or Massa or HAmmi, but never Alonso.

The reason for the lack of fire on both Raikkonen and Alonso's account relates to different tires, different aero balance and different brakes.
Tough lately they started to get the grips.

Raikkonen's behavior in 2005 made me knick name him "Come-back Kimi".

But with today's cars such races are no longer possible.
The restricted V8s (vs. the unrestricted V10s), the new Flintstone tires and the even more turbulent and sensitive aerodynamics makes races such as Suzuka 2005 impossible.

According to Pat Symonds of Renault F1 with today's (2007) cars, for an overtaking to occur (excluding brake and/or start overtaking) the car in the back has to be at least 2 seconds faster per lap than the car in front. This essentially is the difference between a front runner and a back-marker today.

So 2005 and 2003 was heaven on Earth compared to today, and unless the mecanical grip and ground effects downforce are not improved things won't get better.

good post. and very true points. besides the European GP ( wet conditions ), this whole year, i haven't seen a proper race with some decent overtaking.


but then again, MS did have helluva drive at Interlagos last year

But he had an unrestricted engine and no Flintsones of today.

Today's Bridgestones are more like/similar to the 2000/2001 versions not 2006 ones.

Also when Alonso overtook Massa in the wet he was 2 sec+ faster, as was Sato when he overtook Alonso at Montreal due to tire graining.

yeap. Fred was on wrong tyres, and Massa's rims were eating the tyres..

Hamilton nears $110m five-year McLaren deal

Lewis Hamilton is on the verge of signing a $110 million deal to stay on at the McLaren team until the end of 2012. The German newspaper Bild claims the contract, representing a mammoth pay-rise over his debut salary, is worth $17m every year plus - oddly for a McLaren contract - the ability for his father Anthony to negotiate separate marketing arrangements.

Mercedes-Benz’s Norbert Haug confirmed: “We would like to cooperate with Lewis on a long-term basis. He is a great person and a great driver.” Hamilton’s father said they are yet to sign the deal. “Not yet,” he said, then referring to the upcoming FIA inspections at Woking. “There are still things to go through, such as whether the team is definitely in formula one.”
The news coincides with Hamilton telling reporters in the McLaren motor home that he has earned more respect from the team than his championship rival Fernando Alonso. “And since what’s gone on in the last few weeks they’ve realized who the real people are in the team and who they really should back,” the Briton, 22, added.
“We arrived at Spa and he is sitting there laughing and joking. I don’t understand it.” Hamilton confirmed suspicions that his relationship with the Spaniard is almost non-existent. “He is not the person I imagined him to be,” he said. (GMM)

Why would the team allow him to do go around prostituting all sorts of products on his own? Yes, I am not a big fan of celebrity endorsements because I think they provide questionable value.

If he wins WDC, I think some companies would want to associate with him rather than the team. I think TOUI's success and financial muscle ties directly to the fact that it has stable sponsorship. Their sponsors seem to be satisfied most of the time. Why would they tinker with that?

By the way, if a new 5-yr. deal takes Hamilton only to 2012, that means he is only under contract for this year and would be a free agent in the off-season. That would just be stupid, would it not? Why on earth would Mr. Integrity pump millions into a kid's career only to have him under contract for one-season? I think Hamy must be signed to a long-term deal at a very, very good price. He wouldn't have had any bargaining power when he was 13.

$110 million total for years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 means he earns $22 million per year. Why is it listed at $17 million?

I'm so glad for him and haters: eat your heart!

freakin great.. i just hope FIA backs the hell off now..
and leave Mclaren alone..
2012 with lewis..
Does that mean 6 championship winns?

With Ralf leaving Toyota, who takes the seat? I hope it's Massa.

I think Ferrari need Alonso better develop their car. What happened to the talk that Alonso can get out of the TOUI contract if the team was found guilty? Right now Bernie suggested Alonso might be dropped, but still kept on the team payroll, which will not allow him to race in '08. Will Bernie get him out of the deal?

P.S. I think Alonso can stomach not getting equal status at Ferrari, but not at TOUI. Kimi is not the boss's baby. Even if Alonso does not get No. 1 at Ferrari, I don't think he will see favoritism that he sees now.

Schumacher to bid farewell to Toyota


Ralf Schumacher is to leave Toyota at the end of the season, he confirmed on Monday. Speaking in Shanghai, where he is preparing for his penultimate race with the Japanese team, Schumacher said he has decided to look for a new challenge.

Schumacher joined Toyota from Williams for the 2005 season, but has since enjoyed limited success, with three podiums his best results for the team. In a statement on his official website, the German admitted it had been an interesting, if somewhat frustrating three years.

"I joined Toyota with high expectations,” he said. “On the one hand, I regarded it as a major and exciting challenge to be involved in the development of a new racing car. On the other hand, I also learned to like the Japanese style of living, during my long stay in Japan before entering Formula One. And I still get on well with the Japanese mentality. But I am waiting for years for a competitive car."

He added: "Toyota also was a nice and interesting experience - particularly the cooperation with the team, engineers and mechanics. Still, it’s time now to look for a new challenge."

Concerning his future plans, Schumacher commented: “I'm going to have several conversations in the coming weeks. I will announce my decision when the season is over. For me, the financial aspect is far less important than the chance of being involved in the development of a car and being successful afterwards."

Schumacher, a six-time Grand Prix winner with Williams, has scored five points this season, his best result a sixth place in Hungary.

Renault want Alonso back

Renault are desperate to re-sign Fernando Alonso if he walks out on McLaren at the end of the season.
The world champion is frustrated at not being given preferential treatment over his rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton and could be looking for a quick exit strategy at the end of the season.
If he does leave the British team then Renault boss Flavio Briatore, who steered the 26-year-old Spaniard to successive world titles in 2005 and 2006 (pictured), would love to have him back.
"I told Fernando that the moment he is free from McLaren, we would be pleased to have him back," Briatore told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It would be stupid to deny that."
Briatore said that he would not make the same 'mistake' as McLaren chief Ron Dennis and would make it clear that Alonso would be the undisputed number one driver should he return.
"If before signing the contract they [McLaren] told Fernando: 'come with us but you won't have any sort of advantage', he wouldn't have gone.
"If you hire a world champion, then you must give him the number one status. Look at Michael Schumacher."
Briatore's comments came on the same day that Ferrari team chief Jean Todt publicly denied that he would be prepared to off-load Felipe Massa in a bid to get Alonso into the Italian team for next season.
He thinks that the Brazilian will be a much better team-mate for Kimi Raikkonen than Alonso would.
"I wonder: would it be positive to team up Alonso and Raikkonen? The time when you could have two strong drivers in the team are over.
"Now it's important that the roles, number one and two, are clear, otherwise you risk to destabilise the team."
Alonso's frustrations within McLaren became clear when he held up team-mate Hamilton in the pits during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, preventing the Brit from having a final lap while he took pole position.
The bad feeling that emanated from his five-place grid penalty and McLaren's banning from scoring constructors' points in that race soon manifested itself in an ugly episode as Formula One's spy scandal unfolded.
Dennis said that Alonso had tried to bribe him into giving him number one status by threatening to give emails that proved McLaren had knowledge of Ferrari technical secrets leaked to the team, to investigators the FIA.
Dennis did not budge and informed the FIA himself that the information existed, further straining relations between himself and the driver, who has won four races this year and trails Hamilton by 12 points in the championship.
Alonso continues to insist that he is happy to stay at McLaren next year even though Hamilton has publicly said: "It would be better if he left."
Any move for the world champion would mean either Giancarlo Fisichella or Heikki Kovalainen leaving the team.
Jamie O'Leary / Eurosport

Is this an actual quote from Todt? If so, doesn't that suggest that Ferrari is now going to treat Raikkonen as number one instead of letting him and Massa race as they did for most of the season this year?

I guess so. Kimster is a better driver than Massa and is also ahead in the drivers' championship. In the last two races remaining Kimi will be devoted all Ferrari's resources and attention.