The teddies have official left the pram...

[C]

Mr Alonso seems to be having a little bit of difficulty working with McLaren's ethos, and quite possibly is becoming a liability:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6932307.stm

Obviously he was too busy carting during the late 80s (Prost/Senna) and too busy being a Renault driver (Raikonnen/Montoya) to notice how equally McLaren treat their drivers - and let them fight...

I hope he goes asap. I don't think there's much room at McLaren for a primadonna like him - particularly if it compromises his team and team mate. His idiocy (apparently now they weren't counting down to a gap, but discussing tyres whilst he was stationary in the pits, delaying Lewis) have cost the Team 13 contructors points on the day, and probably (assuming they'd have qualifed 1st and 2nd anyway) a one/two in the race (18 constructors points).

[Craig.]

No shocker really. I dont understand why he went there in the first place. He obviously bought into Ron's BS aswell. He'll be back to Renault next year.
I think Mclaren really have messed up that team big time over the weekend, even Lewis has started to get big headed. If reports from one of the papers is to be believed, his radio conversation went along the lines of.
LH to RD "dont ever F'N do that to me again"
RD to LH "dont ever F'N speak to me like that again"
LH to RD "go f'n swivel"
Wasn't from the sun either.

If thats true, then I think Lewis needs to have his head smacked, you dont talk to the guy who's paid for your ride to get there the last 10+ years, like that.. Especially less than a season into your career.

[C]

Put it this way, I think McLaren may have made a bit of a mess this weekend. So, which Mercedes backed driver is available then?

I don't think it helped that they managed to get into the situation where Lewis was worried he would compromise his track position if he had to let Alonso through.

[MWISimmer]

Obviously he was too busy carting during the late 80s (Prost/Senna) and too busy being a Renault driver (Raikonnen/Montoya) to notice how equally McLaren treat their drivers - and let them fight...

[cough]Hakkinen/Coulthard[/cough]

[C]

Obviously he was too busy carting during the late 80s (Prost/Senna) and too busy being a Renault driver (Raikonnen/Montoya) to notice how equally McLaren treat their drivers - and let them fight...

[cough]Hakkinen/Coulthard[/cough]  ;)

I thought of mentioning that pair, but I don't think they were ever in the Senna/Prost bracket, or the conflicting characters such as Raikonnen and Montoya (and they were arguably more successful than the latter pair too!)...

[Craig.]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40318
there ya go.

[C]

Sounds interesting. Nice to see another Mercedes backed driver in the team, or give P de la R a chance to win a GP as a decent team driver, or even better, finally give Gary Paffett his chance. How great would it be to have an all British team (Ilmor were Anglo-Italian, so we'll keep that tenuous link to Mercedes! )

[Craig.]

A friend of mine is dating David Coulthards, managers, daughter. According to her and her dad Paffetts name is being thrown around for a drive in several teams next year, pro drive was the favourite, but I could see Mclaren jumping the queue if FA does leave. Mercedes wern't too happy when Lewis got the drive over "their driver" and I could see them telling Ron he owes them one.

[MWISimmer]

A friend of mine is dating David Coulthards, managers, daughter.

Isn't Martin Brundle Coulthard's manager?

[Craig.]

You know something, I dont have a clue without researching that one. But I've seen some fairly solid proof to back up the claim so I dont know if its direct or part of Brundle/ blundells management company. I'll get some more info when I'm back to work on thursday.

[MWISimmer]

Maybe Brundle is just an advisor.. now you mention 2MB I don't recall David being managed by them... but I can definitely remember at some point Martin Brundle mentioning he had to keep schtum about certain things concerning DC on ITV's coverage.

[Craig.]

I've looked into it a bit and your right, he is under the 2mb team. I do remember my friend telling me something about her uncle saying they had just completed some commentary work on a new F1 game aswell. So maybe he's related to Brundell and part of the 2mb company. I'll ask thursday as i'm kind of interested now.

[MWISimmer]

I'll ask thursday as i'm kind of interested now.

First thing I'd ask is for a Paddock press pass for Silverstone

[Craig.]

Ironically one of the items he used as evidence to back up the claim.
I've been doing my best for several years to get one of these passes, best I could do is testing days by joining the silverstone club thing. Dont think I wont be asking though.

[C]

Certainly Martin Brundle did used to say he managed DC, but I'm sure that's probably as part of a company, as these management things generally are now.

According to her and her dad Paffetts name is being thrown around for a drive in several teams next year, pro drive was the favourite

Autosport have run articles about Prodrive, and the general speculation that as it would effectively be a McLaren/Mercedes "B" team as a customer, then Paffett and De La Rosa would be the drivers....


...maybe Alonso could go there as "team leader"!