Silly Season 2014 - 2015

[F1EA]

Mclaren wants "long term" driver strategy = Jenson is out.

[Vlad-SRB]

Vettel is being mentioned, even if he has 1 more year with Red Bull. The rumors are that McLaren would try to get both him and Newey.

[F1EA]

Vettel is being mentioned, even if he has 1 more year with Red Bull. The rumors are that McLaren would try to get both him and Newey.

Wow Newey back? that would be pretty interesting. But i though he wanted to go build boats or something......

[KevC]

The reported reason for Newey leaving the Red Bull F1 team is that he feels severely restricted by the rules in what he can design. I can't see him then going to another team where the same restrictions apply.

[tderias]

McLaren targeting both Vettel and Alonso according to Autosport:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115604

[F1EA]

McLaren targeting both Vettel and Alonso according to Autosport:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/115604

Interesting.

There's an article with a Q&A with Ron Dennis and he didn't deny it. In fact, he referred to their contracts. So it all depends on if either can get out of their contracts.

There's a reason Mclaren has been so successful as a team... Dennis is a clever business/management guy. Also, i think time has proven Alonso right rather than Dennis, so Dennis is the sort of genius guy who would learn and put personal matters on the side. The polar opposite to LdM...

Alonso is definitely looking for a way out of his sinkhole. I like Ferrari, but Alonso deserves a 3x, it's been cruel.

[tderias]

Woops. I think he's less likely to hit a barrier driving a bike in a big city...

[tderias]

Honda can buy-out Alonso's contract if he's willing to work once again with Ron at McLaren, according to James Allen (take it with a pinch of salt):
http://www.planetf1.com/driver/3213/948 ... -contract-

[iceman1]

For the first time since 7 years. The McLaren website has a page dedicated to Alonso. Weird, no?

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/heritag ... do-alonso/

[6/10ths killer]

For the first time since 7 years. The McLaren website has a page dedicated to Alonso. Weird, no?

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/heritag ... do-alonso/

Jeeez......They must really want Fernando.

[F1EA]

For the first time since 7 years. The McLaren website has a page dedicated to Alonso. Weird, no?

http://www.mclaren.com/formula1/heritag ... do-alonso/

Wow.
They dont even mention him in their 'on this day..' tweets.....

Anyways, Dennis made a big mistake when he decided to race Alonso in 2007. But he's a smart guy... he'll probably even apologize if he has to. Everyine learned from that though; i'm willing to bet Alonso has never shared his setups since that yr... poor Piquet Jr......

I'd rather Alonso win with Ferrari, but they are setting up the team for when Vettel joins after their massive team overhaul; Alonso knows this, so he's about on his way out. RB also know it and they have DR kicking butt.

[iceman1]

It seems it's a done deal. Alonso to McLaren will be confirmed very soon.

Sport Bild says that Ferrari trying to secure Vettel for next year.

[François]

Vettel would be mad to go there. Fulfilling a lifelong dream maybe, but joining a team that hasn't won a championship since McLaren kindly handed over the 2007 one, despite having drivers of the caliber of Alonso and Räikkönen and the (likely) largest budget on the grid. A team in which Alonso failed to win two championships he had a real shot at, despite having every parameter in the team set to his liking alone. A team that has yet to win anything under the new regulations. A team currently led by a principal with very little sporting experience and no winning pedigree. He would be mad to go there unless there is a major signing on the tech/operational front that he's aware of and we aren't.

He would also be mad to leave RBR who haven't designed a bad car in 6 seasons, managed to win 3 races with the worst engine this year (despite the worst off-season ever), an engine that can only improve in 2015 in terms of power and integration.

He would be nuts. Then again... he might just be!

[F1EA]

It seems it's a done deal. Alonso to McLaren will be confirmed very soon.

Sport Bild says that Ferrari trying to secure Vettel for next year.

Agree. Done deal. They may not get Vettel right away, but sometime soon.

It's a crazy situation but it seems there's some strong political pressure on putting Vettel in Ferrari... to the degree that Stefano and LdM couldn't deal with it. Red Bull also know this and basically have been showing Vettel their Webber treatment.

The hope for Ferrari is to have the best car if they want Vettel to win anything for them. So maybe that's what they are going for in a long term plan (who knows maybe even some lee-way in the regulations like Red Bull was granted during a couple of grey area design FIA decisions). Obviously, Alonso doesn't fit in a "long-term" plan, specially if it involves Vettel.

It's funny how Ferrari are going for the 2 drivers getting the biggest ass-whipping in the season...

[Vorull]

Vettel leaves Red Bull: http://www.infiniti-redbullracing.com/a ... -line-2015