Amid F1 quit rumours, Alonso 'not happy' - Sainz snr
- Published on 31 May 2018 09:13
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- By: Jeroen Jonkers
The signs are growing ever stronger that Fernando Alonso's F1 career is coming to an end.
This week, a McLaren delegation including Zak Brown, Gil de Ferran and Alonso's manager Luis Garcia Abad are heading to Detroit for the Indycar race.
It seems that Alonso may be central to McLaren's plans for a full-time Indycar assault in 2019.
"I spoke with Alonso in Monaco and got the impression that he will not continue (in F1)," former F1 driver Martin Brundle said.
And another figure, Renault driver Carlos Sainz's father Carlos Sainz snr, agrees that Alonso is getting frustrated.
"He is in a period when he would like to be in a different situation," Sainz told EFE news agency. "He wants to fight for podiums and wins.
"When you've won before, and in his case he has won two world championships and fought for others, if you are not fighting for podiums, races, championships, it is logical that you are not happy," the Spaniard added.
"And it's especially true if you are as experienced as he is and with the character that Fernando has," said Sainz.
"This year at McLaren the situation is a little bit better and let's hope it improves more, but it's true that maybe he and all of us who want the best for him were expecting something more."
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Replies (8)
Login to replyRindtchamp
Posts: 304
For Alonso to retire with only 2 wdc's whilst Lewis and Seb have 4 and more on the way is just incredibly sad. To hell with Honda and McLaren for wasting his last years in F1.
utter waste of talent. and to hell with Toto for not having the guts to sign him for Merc.
blade
Posts: 341
I feel similar, though both those teams operate 'best' with just a single alpha male.....
2GRX7
Posts: 108
Sorry, but Alonso blazed this trail all on his own! The damage he cause during his first stint at McLaren resonates today. Will he bitch, rebel, only to eventually spill team secrets if the other driver is receiving equal status/parts? I'd love to see him up against Vettel/Hamilton but he really crushed that scenario years ago. You could say Ferrari took him on but he knew he'd be going in as the number one over Massa.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
@2GRX7 There no doubt that he's brought drama to every team since he left Renault the first time. But in the Mclaren case... I think that everyone contributed to the demise. Starting with Ron Dennis being a terrible leader for that situation, Lewis acting like a b**ch even though he was driving incredibly well and getting results, and of course Alonso for rubbish like blocking Lewis in Hungary, the comments to the press about the stolen Ferrari dossier, etc etc. But going back to the main point, it is sickening that Lewis and Seb have 4 WDC each and Alonso only 2. I also think that Alonso would do just fine at Mercedes, somehow I don't see any of the previous drama happening again. It would also be a blockbuster pairing. The marketing around Mercedes would explode.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
@APJ oh believe me, there'd be drama. Alonso is great, but he is really moody, and if you pair him with another very moody driver, one that weaponizes media to boot, you get everything Mercedes doesnt want to experience again times ten. Which is a shame, because we all wanna see Alonso do well.
forumal1@earthlink.net
Posts: 2
I completely agree with Rindtchamp, Alonso's talent has been wasted by Honda and McLaren and its completely tragic that a world champion's place in history has been forever altered by the team's incompetency.
RogerF1
Posts: 501
Looking at this another wat, could this hint that McLaren might pull out of F1 and go 100% Indycar? US is a big market for McLaren production cars! Big drain on resources to run two series.
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I doubt it. No matter how severe this situation might be for McLaren, they have their roots in this series. For them to leave would be a bad marketing blow for both parties, perhaps worse for McLaren compared to if Ferrari leaves. Ferrari is a known brand regardless, but McLaren is more niche. Them being in F1 is vital marketing for them.