ALONSO, 'sandbagging'?

[Bram Turismo]

Blake, fair enough... just hope Fernando does better in a team set up around him. IMO he would have done better for McLaren had they gave him # 1 status he deserved as 2xWDC. He wouldn't have pushed bald tires to stay ahead of 'iceman' and risk DNF if ahead in points. 'equal treatment' just never seemed to be there. It seemed to be 'family affair' with Lewis.

So you say that a WDC driver should have more reason to be on pole than a rookie trying to proove himself and to get a status to start a succesful career?

 

[slidesquad#1]

IMO he would have done better for McLaren had they gave him # 1 status he deserved as 2xWDC.

'equal treatment' just never seemed to be there.

What? You do realise you managed to contradict yourself here. Unless there's some new 'equal treatment' that I'm unaware of which roughly translates into 'favouring one driver over another by giving him #1 status.'

Oh wait, that's exactly what you're saying McLaren have done with Hamilton over Alonso. So it's okay for them to have favoured Alonso, but unfair if they did it for Hamilton? Biased much?

 

[m7ammed]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=41847

Fernando Alonso says he will be satisfied just to help Renault get back on the pace this year, and will not be disappointed if he cannot join the title fight.

The double world champion - who came within one point of a third straight title at McLaren in 2007 - does not expect Renault to start the year amongst the frontrunners, but says he has already adjusted his expectations for 2008.

"It will be a frustrating feeling not leading the table of course, but you'll have new targets - maybe not a victory, but the top five, then the podium - so there will be motivation to push to the limit," Alonso told the BBC.

"At the moment I think I will only be concentrated on my job - what other teams are doing is not my concern.

"I will try to do my best and be happy.

"I had an opportunity to fight for a world championship again (with McLaren) and I was lucky to have a competitive car again and fight until the last race.

"But now that's the past and now I have another challenge: to put Renault back at the top.

"I'm very, very happy at the moment.

"I'm enjoying life with Renault again and I think it will be a good year for me even if in the end we cannot fight for the title."

Alonso believes that the gap between Renault and the title contenders last season was just too big to close before Melbourne.

"At the moment I think we will struggle a little bit at the start of the season," he said.

"I think last year Renault was a bit too far behind the top cars, around 1-1.5s, so the gap to recover is a little bit too much for one winter.

"Even if the R28 is a step forward, and we are quite happy with the car, we're still not at the level to win races.

"We need more time and we need some clever ideas."

guess so much for sandbagging , huh?

 

[mustang245]

Very nice on topic post. Nice article. I've read them all. Like Marc Gene, I wonder though.

 

[mustang245]

It would seem EVERYONE has written off Alonso this year, Massa, Raikonnen, Trulli even. He claims 30% chance at Title, he he. Could this be "wolf in sheeps clothing", I hope? What has Renault been up to since April '07 when they ceased developing last years R27? The season draws nigh... KR & PM better gas up for Q3 since they can't refuel after with new rules. If they go for pole 'lite' they might have to pit early on in GP, giving Fernando a shot? I have my Nomex on, LOL. There should be more chat in a F1 forum so close to Round 1.

 

[Metar]

At the same time, Alonso can't refuel either. Look, it's obvious that you're a blind religious follower of Alonso. No reason to make post after post detailing why exactly Alonso is faster, or why he will win.


I'm a fan of him myself, and would very much like him to win. But that's no reason to push it everywhere.

 

[mustang245]

At the same time, Alonso can't refuel either. Look, it's obvious that you're a blind religious follower of Alonso. No reason to make post after post detailing why exactly Alonso is faster, or why he will win.


I'm a fan of him myself, and would very much like him to win. But that's no reason to push it everywhere.

I didn't say he was faster or would win. I think he might go heavy Q3 and start Gp light. As for 'pushing' the thread, I find it (strategy) more intriguing than liveries myself.

 

[Roo]

What has Renault been up to since April '07 when they ceased developing last years R27?

Fixing their windtunnel?

The season draws nigh... KR & PM better gas up for Q3 since they can't refuel after with new rules. If they go for pole 'lite' they might have to pit early on in GP, giving Fernando a shot?

Nope. Fernando will have to 'gas up' too. Unless he doesn't qualify in the top 10, of course, when he'll be too busy fighting Red Bulls, Williams, Toyotas and such. Don't forget, with the standard ECU, he doesn't have the luxury he used to have of Renault's starting system, which was the best in the field - so unless he makes a cracking start, he'll be midfielding.

Edit:

I think he might go heavy Q3 and start Gp light.

I don't understand - are you saying he would run heavy, making him slow, through Q3 and then try to start the race with an ultra light car, thus needing to pit early? Surely that's the worst strategy possible?

 

[Metar]

Fixing their windtunnel?

I thought Renault were the ones who started a second one? And then got owned big-time when the FIA published new limits on those?

 

[mustang245]

I think pit strategy will factor heavily into Renault strategy to get Alonso out before others. I for one don't believe they are quite so slow as they would have us believe. He is hard to pass regardless. Also I believe Renault to rely more on CFD (computational fluid dynamics).

 

[Metar]

And if they rely more on CFD - so what? BMW Sauber holds the most powerful machine in F1, anyway. Ferrari's wind-tunnel is a state-of-the-art thing, and Sauber's complex is just as good. So I don't see where Renault is superior here.

And why does stopping early count as a good strategy?

 

[mustang245]

And if they rely more on CFD - so what? BMW Sauber holds the most powerful machine in F1, anyway. Ferrari's wind-tunnel is a state-of-the-art thing, and Sauber's complex is just as good. So I don't see where Renault is superior here.

And why does stopping early count as a good strategy?

I believe they'll qualify heavy to start race with more fuel so they don't pit early. I think Ferrari & McLaren will start GP light having gone for pole, thus pitting early. Possible strategies, stay cool.

 

[Metar]

But remember that when running early in the first laps, he'll also be slower, giving the light runners a certain advantage when the time comes to pit, regardless of when they pit.

 

[m7ammed]

the front runners are quicker than Renault with them having the same fuel load , them going lighter will just make them even faster giving them enough gap to pit and still stay ahead , they have to be really close to the pace of the front runners to keep up with a heavy car

 

[mustang245]

Yes, yes, good points. Nice discussion. Winter testing was never more relevant, yet I doubt IMO, the R28 is quite so slow. I could be wrong, I admit that. Melbourne is sure to be thrilling and I'm counting the days till Friday. Yes I'm a Alonso fan, not many others here, but as a RL driving enthusiast I admit the 22 drivers in F1 are the best in the world behind the wheel. Any front-runners miss a beat Heidfeld will be all over them. He harassed Alonso himself a few times last year and I expect him to be on fire this year.

 

[Metar]

More likely, any of the front-runners misses a beat and Fernando, Nick, Nico and Naka will be all over them. And perhaps Webber.

 

[mustang245]

the front runners are quicker than Renault with them having the same fuel load , them going lighter will just make them even faster giving them enough gap to pit and still stay ahead , they have to be really close to the pace of the front runners to keep up with a heavy car

Perhaps they are closer to the 'pace' than they'd have us know? Wouldn't that be an advantage? To downplay it? Realisticly, Renault either has it (pace) which could spell an upset in the percieved front-runners or they don't. Merely speculation I admit, but intriguing nonetheless.

 

[mustang245]

More likely, any of the front-runners misses a beat and Fernando, Nick, Nico and Naka will be all over them. And perhaps Webber.

Yes the midfield is catching up fast, and I'm glad. More excitement for sure. Kubica & Heidfeld showed what can happen. Kubica took no $h!t from Massa at Shanghai (?) and that was one bad-a$$ battle ROYALE.

 

[daan]

Mustang245. Please stop double posting. You have an edit button, and a multi quote button available to you. Please use them.

Thanks.

 

[mustang245]

Mustang245. Please stop double posting. You have an edit button, and a multi quote button available to you. Please use them.

Thanks.

Sorry, sir. I'm trying to get a handle on that still.