I wonder if he will be asked to repay the hundred million dollars, along with the value of the points they lost, when/if he returns.

I can't see him returning to McLaren, surely he's burnt his bridges there

Whitmarsh just answered a question that has no foundation and more of hypothetical imagination. Alonso knew way before all that Felipe as being dismissed and the likely replacement wasn't his choice and likely to be a threat as Ferrari desperately need to make the return to the front. His ambiguous remarks, publically or off record, are partly to scare Ferrari that he would consider shifting, but also to remain the top dog in the team. The effort to accommodate him is not too dissimilar to Schumacher and he will want the new regulations to dramatically leap frog Red Bull next year, as his patience may then be exhausted.

Trouble is with Kimi now confirmed, Ferrari may say to Alonso 'see you later' if the latter threatens to leave

What a monumental piece of mis-reporting as it turns out. Whitmarsh was asked if hypothetically he'd like to have Alonso driving for him and he answered, yes, any team would like to have him. Suddenly that becomes 'Alonso is Mclaren's No. 1 target' on the BBC. That despite the fact that JB has confirmed he has re-signed, Perez has confirmed his contract is all but signed, Whitmarsh has confirmed that what both drivers say is correct and that he doesn't expect his driver line-up to change next season. Are the BBC really so desperate for attention?

I guess the alonso staying put for 3 more years at ferarri ends the mclaren interest

Wouldn't Alonso to Mclaren only be due to the Honda engine. Honda have an exclusive deal with Mclaren for 2015. The homologisation starts in phases so coming in a year later might be a big advantage to Honda. Especially if Mclaren help them by stealing some mercedes IP should be quite easy through MES.

A year to develope without homologisation or having to run a multi team engine program could be quite valuable. After what Mercheatdes got away with wouldn't be surprised if Mclaren could do quite a bit of engine testing for Honda during 2014.

So alonso should want to see relative engine performance and wither F1 becomes an engine formula before he does anything.

Must admit, I think this is just McLaren trying to sh*t-stir.
Ferrari now have their driver line-up sorted for next year so that's something they don't have to think about any more.
By announcing this they'll probably force Ferrari to have another look at it all and asking Alonso about it might just inflame any existing tensions at Ferrari even further.

Funny story though.

Like I said, it ain't true unless EJ says it is so.

It couldn't be McLaren getting Alonso all excited about moving; he resigns from Ferrari, expecting a call from Martin Whitmarsh, but Whitmarsh calls and says, "ha....I told you I'd get you back!"

Yeah that would really show him. He show say nana nanana stick his thumb on his nose and wiggle his fingers to. I bet F1 drivers resign from one team before they have a contract for another. Alonso costing Mclaren £50M and showing them up for liars for a second time would be the most likely outcome there.

Seems like more silly comments from MW. Mclaren are in no championships, have no star drivers and sadly resorting to shit stirring to get attention.

What would happen if McLaren did sign Alonso who would be the Driver to make way Jenson Perhaps

Could Jenson be moving to Lotus next Year if they have the money

Didn't Ferrari tap up Vettel last year?

It is an odd story though as everyone knows McLaren don't pay top salaries for anyone... that's why Lewis left.

That's a bit harsh on the 2009 WDC.

Why is it a silly comment? He was asked if he'd have Alonso and he answered yes, who wouldn't. He then clarified he had two drivers, one of who has a contract for next season, the other has a contract nearly signed, that Alonso is still under contract as far as he knew and that no contact had been made between Mclaren and Alonso. So no shit-stirring, no trying to wind Ferrari up, no story. The only story is the way a simple answer has been deliberately mis-interpreted by the media, specifically the BBC, and then manipulated by people as a way to have sly digs at Mclaren. Petty is the word I'd use.

Interesting that Perez hasn't re-signed yet.

Wonder if McLaren assumed that after signing Perez Mex-Tel would leap in to be their title sponsor next year and it hasn't happened?

Seat at Lotus may be of interest [salary pending of course ]
Last edited by Pendragon579 : 21-09-2013 at 18:01

I think Kobayashi would be good fit for Lotus or Force India, I miss Kamui's Driving time for a comeback

For me it's either Hulkenberg or Di Resta for Lotus [or possibly both drivers]

so like
when will people start describing vettel as the NEW SCHUMACHER

driver and machine in perfect harmony, and that combination is just unbeatable sometimes!!!

he's the champion elect for this season, and the next couple of seasons if no one else can get up to him

True enough Maybe the new engine formula will shake things up next year - bound to be reliability issues in the early races

Well if he is the new Schumacher, I know one sport I won't be watching for the next few years - many races are already barely as exciting as watching paint dry as it is...

I've been a viewer for years, but I still remember the early 2000s Schumacher dominance as being incredibly boring at times. I don't wish for a repeat at all, certainly not with Vettel.

That's not true at all. Hamilton and button were both joint second highest paid drivers in 2012. As a team McLaren had the second highest driver wage bill in F1. Only Ferrari paid more.

Yeah the fair weather fans can just leave. It's happend before and it really hasn't hurt the sport.

I'm not bored of Vettel winning four in a row. Wither he will win further back to back championships after this year is highly questionable with the new 2014 regs.

Something tells me Renault won't have the most powerful engine and Adrian Newey might over cook the packaging of the car.

Mercedes are well up for this new engine era. Ferrari and Mercedes are making sports cars with KERS already. Honda are very interested in environmental products. The road car applications of these technologies are high end performance and highly environment motivated purchases decision. I don't see where Renault fit in between a prious and La Ferrari.

You are correct, 2012 Salaries, http://www.crash.net/f1/news/180405/...arns_most.html