Alonso to McLaren ´07!

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Mt. Lynx

Mt. Lynx

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As found here

It states:
Here's the press release that has stunned F1...
Woking, Great Britain, Monday 19th December 2005: The 2005 Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso and Vodafone McLaren Mercedes will be joining forces for the 2007 Formula One season. Today's announcement comes only five days after Vodafone and McLaren Mercedes confirmed Vodafone's title sponsorship effective from January 2007 and forms an important part of the team's long term strategic partnership.

"Its great that our strong belief in the strength and competitiveness of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes package has been further endorsed by the World Champion," said Ron Dennis, Team Principal and Chairman and CEO of the McLaren Group. "We always make it clear that we want to be the best and the only way of achieving this objective is by attracting the best people, the best drivers and the best sponsors. To be able to announce Vodafone as only McLaren's third title partner in more than 30 years and Fernando's employment within only a few days is fantastic news for the team, our Partners, Formula One and the fans."

"We are in discussions with our current drivers' Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya regarding the 2007 season," continues Ron Dennis. "Both Juan Pablo and Kimi are extremely talented, professional and competitive Formula One drivers and they have and will continue to concentrate on our joint challenge for the Championships."

"Fernando and McLaren Mercedes wanted to make the announcement as soon as possible in a controlled and professional manner to allow McLaren Mercedes, Fernando, Kimi and Juan Pablo to focus on the preparations for the 2006 season," states Ron Dennis. "Our aim for next year remains absolutely clear to everybody within the team – we want to win races and be in a position where we might have two Formula One World Champions driving for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes in 2007."

"We are pleased to welcome Fernando to the team and look forward to working both with him and our new title sponsor in 2007," said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. "To have a World Champion joining the team is a great endorsement and will create a tremendous amount of excitement. However for now our focus must remain on the 2006 season where we want to go one better than we did in 2005."

"To become part of a team with such a desire to succeed and passion for performance is a dream come true for any Formula One driver," said 2005 Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso. "I'm very excited about 2007 and the fantastic opportunity to drive for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. It will be a new beginning for me and a tremendous challenge and from what I have heard about this exciting new Partnership there is something to look forward to. Obviously I will be sad to leave Renault but sometimes possibilities come along which are just too good to miss. I'm pleased that we are able to make this announcement already now as it will allow my current team and I to focus 100 per cent on defending the World Championships next year."
 
Great news! Lets hope Kimi will still be with Mclaren. That'd be an awesome combination.
 
This actually made me think about the rumors of Kimi going to Ferrari ´07. Is there any truth in that? McLaren, Kimi and Ferrari has said there isn´t , but this is F1, so who knows?
 
WOW! I did not see that one coming. Isn't Flav Alonso's manager? How did he allow him to leave?

And I guess this will fuel the rumours of Kimi going to Ferrari.
 
I didn't really believe it till I read it on mclaren.com... shocking... as much as I hate to see it, kimi's likely off to ferrari...
 
Even if Kimi stayed... Would he be the SECOND driver on the team? I don't think he'd be very happy with that.

McLaren is SUPER weird, man. They are not the same team with Alonso on board. The heroic antagonist is no more.
 
I'm stunned! Stunned! This was so unexpected I almost think it's a joke. Wow!

But...on the plus side this means Kimi will be in red for 2007. Finally Kimi will have a fast and reliable car. A great chassis AND a great engine, not the piece of trash paper-weight Mercedes engine.

An Alonso/JPM team will be...umm...interesting.

Also this helps Fisi out as well as he will realistically have a drive on 07 with Renault...while Heikki Kovalainen will assume team leader.

Though this also might mean Renault is leaving F1 after 06. They did say that they want to win both titles, after they did that they would address their future in F1....

hmmm.

Wow...just wow!
 
So is Michael definitely retired now? Or will Massa be test driving for a season?
 
Omnis
Even if Kimi stayed... Would he be the SECOND driver on the team? I don't think he'd be very happy with that.

McLaren is SUPER weird, man. They are not the same team with Alonso on board. The heroic antagonist is no more.
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not necessarily... I think both are equally talented (thought I think kimi might have an edge)... if he doesn't leave, it'll be senna vs. prost all over again...

unless mclaren already knows that kimi will be leaving, hence locking down alonso...
 
sinner
not necessarily... I think both are equally talented (thought I think kimi might have an edge)... if he doesn't leave, it'll be senna vs. prost all over again...

unless mclaren already knows that kimi will be leaving, hence locking down alonso...
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McLaren knows Kimi is gone, I think they knew from mid season 05 on.

MS retires next year. No question.
 
excellent!
This is the best information Ive heard all week!!
If Kimi is the one to be replaced, im almost certain Ferrari will snatch him up.
 
wow, what a cunnundrum... If Kimi leaves for Ferrari, I mean... I've been a McLaren fan since 1982, and I've also been a Kimi fan since he was at Sauber... however, I've also been an anti-Ferrari from the mid-80s... And I'm not really crazy about Alonso... guess I'll be now :indiff:

By the way, which do you think is more likely? Kimi and Alonso doing the Senna-Prost of the late 80s, or Montoya succumbing to Alonso and giving him the lead? I just don't see an Alonso-Montoya buddying.
 
what a shocker!

it just makes all the other rumors just that much juicier!

rumors that kimi to ferrari have been going on for years. they say if kimi goes to ferrari, michael is gone. there's also been rumors of michael to red bull or mclaren but with alonso now at mclaren, michael would most likely retire or go to red bull. but what about rossi? kimi v. rossi at ferrari in the coming years? kimi, massa with rossi as a reserve for one year, boot massa and put in rossi. the endless possibilities!
 
I think Kimi will wait and see what happens in the next season, cause if Ferrari perform like they have this past season, I think he would pull a Button and rather try to stay at McLaren.

Personally I think it would be best for Juan Pablo to leave, if Alonso is coming in, JP has dropped the ball a few times if I remember, and I'm sure McLaren know, as do many fans that Kimi is the better driver, he just hasn't had the car under him to properly prove it.

Kimi and Fernado would be an F1 dream team, and I bet McLaren would be unbeatable.
 
But what happens when the two collide into each other while trying to pass? You know it's gonna happen. The two of them are way too competitive.
 
Like a finnish Formula 1 commentator said today "Getting a World champion to the team almost shouts: Kimi is out!" I just wonder with fear where he'll go on 2007... Not to Ferrari, please not to Ferrari! :crazy:
 
sting
I think Kimi will wait and see what happens in the next season, cause if Ferrari perform like they have this past season, I think he would pull a Button and rather try to stay at McLaren.

Personally I think it would be best for Juan Pablo to leave, if Alonso is coming in, JP has dropped the ball a few times if I remember, and I'm sure McLaren know, as do many fans that Kimi is the better driver, he just hasn't had the car under him to properly prove it.

Kimi and Fernado would be an F1 dream team, and I bet McLaren would be unbeatable.
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Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

There is nothing to "wait and see" about Ferrari. 06 and beyond look great for them, more than any other team. For 06 you have tire changes back. You know how well Bridgestone does with that. It favors Ferrari (and Toyota and Williams) hugely next year...as well as 07 and beyond when all teams have to (assumed) move to Bridgestone tires. Ferrari's long relationship with bridgestone is HUGE.

Sure in 05 Ferrari dropped the ball on the chassis, though I think it's obvious that 75% or more of their problems was due to the tires. But that is just a small blip on the radar for the Scuderia. Just one year out of 6+ that they got it wrong. Yes things will change as far as team structure post MS but honestly no team is stronger for the future than Ferrari, save Toyota.

My feeling is that in 06 it's going to be Ferrari stomping everyone, in typical fashion...with Toyota close behind. So many factors point to this, though I will admit it's still early days in winter testing. Renualt will be a solid 3rd and McLaren will be lucky to fend off Williams for 4th/5th. I just don't see the Ilmor/Merc V8 being able to race and the McLaren chassis favored the one tire rule...which is now gone. Beyond last season the McLaren chassis has never been THAT strong (when compared to Ferrari).

Kimi (and JPM) are going to have a frustrating you, much like 04 was for mcMerc, maybe worst. I doubt either will win more than one or two races combined.

Kimi has got to be bound for Ferrari, period....especially now that Alonso has signed for mcLaren. Both drivers won't be on the team together. Plus the 07 McLaren won't be a race winner, I doubt they will do better than 5th in the constructors.

McLaren's days as a top team are numbered. Toyota & Red Bull are the future. Honda and BMW will be far stronger as well. McLaren and Williams will be fighting for the scraps of the top teams in the coming years and will not be a threat.

JPM isn't going anywhere. Who would want him and frankly why would he go anywhere else. McLaren is the best place for him and regardless of the stumbling this season Ron & Co get on well with JPM and JPM seems happy there (as much as JPM can be). Even if JPM moved, Feerrari woulsn't be where he went. The only real option I can see if Red Bull...

There is also another name linked to McLaren that is getting alot of press today that everyone is forgetting about....

Lewis Hamilton....
 
This just in:

"Kimi has talked to Mr. Aguri who has decided to push foward with his team again, and in 2007, the team will become Super Kimuri Racing, and will feature two drivers: Kimi Raikkonen, and one of Kimi Raikkonen's ribs."
 
kensei
There is nothing to "wait and see" about Ferrari. 06 and beyond look great for them, more than any other team.
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Keep dreaming, I doubt Renault will just let Ferrari take it. Ferrari have their work cut out for them, but we'll see when the season starts! :sly:
 
Wow, just wow.

If Kimi's going red, I'm not sure it's such a safe bet. Aren't Todt and Brown rumored to leave after 2006? Their decline might not be over yet...

On the other hand, perhaps Newey was even a greater loss for McLaren, I'm eager to see how well they'll do without him.
 
I think Kensei has a good point in what he says. I can actually see both Kimi and JPM out of McLaren ´07, with Kimi going to Ferrari, and JPM to Toyota, as I belive they will try to replace atleast Ralf for ´07. MS is likely to retire after next season, and I think Massa will be racing in red until the end of ´08, and that´s when Rossis contract with Yamaha expires...
Renault on the other hand will most likely call it quits when the current concorde agreement expires. Who will take their place? I give Audi a vote... Well, ifs and buts...
 
sting
Keep dreaming, I doubt Renault will just let Ferrari take it. Ferrari have their work cut out for them, but we'll see when the season starts! :sly:
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I doubt Renault will be able to do much next year to stop Ferrari. Eitherway Renault will spank mcLaren next season.

Team666
I think Kensei has a good point in what he says. I can actually see both Kimi and JPM out of McLaren ´07, with Kimi going to Ferrari, and JPM to Toyota, as I belive they will try to replace atleast Ralf for ´07. MS is likely to retire after next season, and I think Massa will be racing in red until the end of ´08, and that´s when Rossis contract with Yamaha expires...
Renault on the other hand will most likely call it quits when the current concorde agreement expires. Who will take their place? I give Audi a vote... Well, ifs and buts...
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I doubt JPM will ever end up at Toyota. 50% of why Ralf is there I because the Japanese board wanted a "Schumacher"...they didn't care (or know) there were two. Nor can I see JPM working out a Toyota.

Red bull, BMW and outside shot of Honda for JPM.

I for one would love to see a Kimi/Rossi combo at Ferrari on 07 or 08...but I doubt it will happen. I just can't see Rossi actually switching to F1. I want him too but my gut says he won't.
 
colton19911
I hope I don't crush my head while getting into a McLaren F1 in Germany When I go there for Summer vacation '09.
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what the hell has that got to do with this topic? :crazy:
 
A Kimi and Alonso combo would be kool, and great for McLaren.
 

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