Alonso Miffed at Renault
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Toronto, ON
Alonso Miffed at Renault
Fernando Alonso has sensationally accused Renault of sabotaging his title campaign by making intentional errors during the Chinese Grand Prix.
Alonso lost the lead in both Sunday's Shanghai race and the Drivers' Championship after Renault put the wrong tyres on his car during his first pit-stop and then compounded the error by bungling his second stop.
And according to the Spaniard, the 'mistakes' happened because Renault don't want him to retain the World title as he's leaving for McLaren at the end of this season.
"They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number 'one' to a different team," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"They are not helping me as much as they could."
The 25-year-old went on to claim that Renault are now only interested in the outcome of the Constructors' race. "Some [at Renault] are happy because we went past Ferrari in the team battle," he said.
With two races to go, Renault have a one-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, while Alonso is second in the Drivers' standings because even though he has the same number of points as Michael Schumacher, the Ferrari driver has won more races this year.
Alonso lost the lead in both Sunday's Shanghai race and the Drivers' Championship after Renault put the wrong tyres on his car during his first pit-stop and then compounded the error by bungling his second stop.
And according to the Spaniard, the 'mistakes' happened because Renault don't want him to retain the World title as he's leaving for McLaren at the end of this season.
"They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number 'one' to a different team," he told Spanish newspaper AS.
"They are not helping me as much as they could."
The 25-year-old went on to claim that Renault are now only interested in the outcome of the Constructors' race. "Some [at Renault] are happy because we went past Ferrari in the team battle," he said.
With two races to go, Renault have a one-point lead over Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, while Alonso is second in the Drivers' standings because even though he has the same number of points as Michael Schumacher, the Ferrari driver has won more races this year.
http://www.planet-f1.com/News/Story_...566627,00.html
Not quite the smartest move, with two races still to go in the season
Senior Moderator
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: NYC
Alonso has lost it, the pressure is getting to him. Maybe he was upset that Fisichella passed him in the race. He's certainly not the cool-under-pressure type. Ron Dennis has his work cut out for him. Just imagine what Alonso will say about McLaren if the car fails at the same rate that Kimi is experiencing.
I didn't think of it before, but next year there could be a #0 back on the grid, if Schumacher wins the championship and Ferrari decides not to use the #1.
another good one gone bad (driver w/ a big time attitude problem that is)
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Toronto, ON
Given McLaren's reliability problems over the last couple of years, I doubt they're going to provide Alonso with the perfect car next year. So we should get plenty of comments from him bashing McLaren soon. I'm surprised Kimi lasted so long with all the breakdowns without going insane and destroying that motorhome Ron loves.
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From: NYC
The next generation of F-1 cars should have no drivers, instead, computers will pilot the cars. The fastest car will not be down to the best engine or best aero or tires, but the best AI.
ASIMO FTW!!!
ASIMO FTW!!!
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Toronto, ON
Renault Answers Alonso's Claims
Renault have denounced Fernando Alonso's outlandish claim that team members are deliberately sabotaging his World Championship bid because he is leaving for McLaren.
Outraged by the bungled pit-stops that enabled title rival Michael Schumacher to claim victory last weekend in China, Alonso complained: "The whole team is gutted, apart from the handful of people who don't want me to take No1 to McLaren. They are not helping me as much as they could."
But in a statement released last night, Renault insisted that all the team was fully committed to Alonso's cause.
"The team is 150 per cent behind Fernando in his battle for the championship and there is no question of our commitment flagging," it read. "The points situation is so tight that to win the constructors' championship you've got to be sure of winning the drivers' championship and vice versa.
"We have worked flat out since Monza on engine development to ensure that we keep our competitive edge through to the last race of the season in Brazil. In addition Giancarlo [Fisichella] drove purely for the team at Shanghai on Sunday, finishing third behind Fernando. There is no problem at all with the relations between him and the team."
Nonetheless, the unnecessary furore is bound to sour relations inside the Renault garage at the final two races this season.
Outraged by the bungled pit-stops that enabled title rival Michael Schumacher to claim victory last weekend in China, Alonso complained: "The whole team is gutted, apart from the handful of people who don't want me to take No1 to McLaren. They are not helping me as much as they could."
But in a statement released last night, Renault insisted that all the team was fully committed to Alonso's cause.
"The team is 150 per cent behind Fernando in his battle for the championship and there is no question of our commitment flagging," it read. "The points situation is so tight that to win the constructors' championship you've got to be sure of winning the drivers' championship and vice versa.
"We have worked flat out since Monza on engine development to ensure that we keep our competitive edge through to the last race of the season in Brazil. In addition Giancarlo [Fisichella] drove purely for the team at Shanghai on Sunday, finishing third behind Fernando. There is no problem at all with the relations between him and the team."
Nonetheless, the unnecessary furore is bound to sour relations inside the Renault garage at the final two races this season.
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Senior Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Appleton WI
Originally Posted by F-C
The next generation of F-1 cars should have no drivers, instead, computers will pilot the cars. The fastest car will not be down to the best engine or best aero or tires, but the best AI.
ASIMO FTW!!!
ASIMO FTW!!!
Alonso acts like a little kid. Renault will be better off with out him. Good luck McLaren
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Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Toronto, ON
FA annoys me to no end. Seriously, stop whining all the time and just race. I wasn't going to support him at McLaren next year anyway, but now he's making the choice to keep supporting Kimi even if it means *gasp* supporting Ferrari easier.
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Three Wheelin'
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From: Toronto, ON
Backtrack much?
Fernando Alonso has downplayed his recent claims that Renault are sabotaging his Championship campaign.
Alonso hit out at his team following Sunday's Chinese GP, which saw not one but two mistakes from the team cost him the victory and the lead in the Drivers' Championship standings.
In the wake of the race an angry Alonso told Spanish newspaper AS: "They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number 'one' to a different team. They are not helping me as much as they could."
However, the Renault driver backtracked on his comments during Thursday's press conference for the Japanese GP weekend.
Asked if he had a problem with the team, Alonso said: "No, not a problem at all with anybody."
"I think the team does the maximum they can. They are giving me a fantastic car, winning last year's Championship and fighting this year, and what the team does every race is unbelievable and thanks to that, we are equal in the Drivers' and ahead in the Constructors'."
However, he did admit that there are times he does feel as if the team isn't giving him their full backing.
"I had two difficult moments this year, one in Indianapolis, where I was not competitive, and one in China, where for 10 laps I was completely off the pace and losing four seconds a lap and, you know, these two moments, maybe, in my opinion, in team play, maybe, I should have had more help."
Alonso also denied reports of a rift with his Renault team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.
"Also there is a funny story from Germany that Fisichella was going to Michael's party after the race and Fisichella was there and I was angry with him and the team," he commend.
"There are always rumours that they try to put there but there is nothing true."
Alonso hit out at his team following Sunday's Chinese GP, which saw not one but two mistakes from the team cost him the victory and the lead in the Drivers' Championship standings.
In the wake of the race an angry Alonso told Spanish newspaper AS: "They wanted us to finish second and third because they do not want me to take the number 'one' to a different team. They are not helping me as much as they could."
However, the Renault driver backtracked on his comments during Thursday's press conference for the Japanese GP weekend.
Asked if he had a problem with the team, Alonso said: "No, not a problem at all with anybody."
"I think the team does the maximum they can. They are giving me a fantastic car, winning last year's Championship and fighting this year, and what the team does every race is unbelievable and thanks to that, we are equal in the Drivers' and ahead in the Constructors'."
However, he did admit that there are times he does feel as if the team isn't giving him their full backing.
"I had two difficult moments this year, one in Indianapolis, where I was not competitive, and one in China, where for 10 laps I was completely off the pace and losing four seconds a lap and, you know, these two moments, maybe, in my opinion, in team play, maybe, I should have had more help."
Alonso also denied reports of a rift with his Renault team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.
"Also there is a funny story from Germany that Fisichella was going to Michael's party after the race and Fisichella was there and I was angry with him and the team," he commend.
"There are always rumours that they try to put there but there is nothing true."
How exactly does he expect the team to help him in the middle of the race? Should they have jumped off the pitwall onto the track and held the other cars up while his car got back up to speed?
Previous Owner
Joined: May 2004
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From: San Diego, CA
Renault Replaces F-1 Mechanic Who Botched Alonso's Tire Change
Copied from bloomberg news service. They have tons of stuff on F1 Wow.
Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The Renault Formula One team is
replacing the mechanic who fumbled a tire change on Fernando
Alonso's car in the Chinese Grand Prix and ruined his chances of
challenging Michael Schumacher's lead.
The unidentified mechanic will be substituted for this
weekend's race in Suzuka, Japan, Renault spokesman Bradley Lord
said in a phone interview, adding it was the 19th reshuffle of
the team's pit crew in 17 races this season.
``It's not a question of blaming anyone,'' Lord said. ``We
are constantly fine-tuning.''
The mechanic dropped a wheel-nut from his so-called ``gun''
used to fix on a new tire, a mistake that lost defending
champion Alonso 10 seconds in the race in Shanghai four days
ago. Ferrari's Schumacher won by 3.1 seconds to take the
championship lead from Alonso.
``We preferred to substitute him because he would have been
under too much pressure this weekend,'' Flavio Briatore, Renault
team manager, told Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
Schumacher, who is retiring after this season, would seal a
record-extending eighth title if he wins in Suzuka and Alonso
fails to score a point.
Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) -- The Renault Formula One team is
replacing the mechanic who fumbled a tire change on Fernando
Alonso's car in the Chinese Grand Prix and ruined his chances of
challenging Michael Schumacher's lead.
The unidentified mechanic will be substituted for this
weekend's race in Suzuka, Japan, Renault spokesman Bradley Lord
said in a phone interview, adding it was the 19th reshuffle of
the team's pit crew in 17 races this season.
``It's not a question of blaming anyone,'' Lord said. ``We
are constantly fine-tuning.''
The mechanic dropped a wheel-nut from his so-called ``gun''
used to fix on a new tire, a mistake that lost defending
champion Alonso 10 seconds in the race in Shanghai four days
ago. Ferrari's Schumacher won by 3.1 seconds to take the
championship lead from Alonso.
``We preferred to substitute him because he would have been
under too much pressure this weekend,'' Flavio Briatore, Renault
team manager, told Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
Schumacher, who is retiring after this season, would seal a
record-extending eighth title if he wins in Suzuka and Alonso
fails to score a point.
6G TLX-S
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,224
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From: YVR
Wake up boy (Alonso). You have been spoiled from previous successes, you can't win all the time. Mishaps do happen, and it can happen to anyone in any team. So take it like a man and stop complaining like some conspiracy theories.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 26,224
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From: Haudenosaunee Land
I'll never forget when a mechanic failed to put Mansell's tire on properly (Portugal???) when Nige was in the title hunt. As a result, his tire fell off before he got to the end of the pit lane. Then they tried pulling him back into the pit box and b/c he had crossed the white line, he was deemed to have re-entered the track and incapable of getting any assistance on his car. DQ'd, over and out.
Williams BTW.
Williams BTW.
n00b
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,738
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From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Edward'TLS
Wake up boy (Alonso). You have been spoiled from previous successes, you can't win all the time. Mishaps do happen, and it can happen to anyone in any team. So take it like a man and stop complaining like some conspiracy theories.
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