Fuji, Japanese Grand Prix 2007

[Touring Mars]

Just as bloody well... I think the whole thing stunk to high heaven. Either penalise him during or immediately after the race, but this 'trial by YouTube' is utter crap... I'm aware that Webber didn't make the complaint, but rather it was Franz Tost of Toro Rosso... for the love of God, can we get on with the racing now please?

 

[<_Spike_>]

Good to see a rare smart decision by the FIA, for both Hamilton and Vettel.

 

[Sting]

Good to see a rare smart decision by the FIA, for both Hamilton and Vettel.

Echos that post.

 

[RACECAR]

Man, Hamilton got lucky yet again. Thats twice something could have happened to him and it didn't. I wonder what alonso's reaction will be now?

 

[Famine]

Man, Hamilton got lucky yet again. Thats twice something could have happened to him and it didn't. I wonder what alonso's reaction will be now?

*hazards a guess*

Stick his bottom-lip out, claim McLaren/Ron Dennis hate him and behave erratically on the track, to eventually claim a second respectful DNF at the hands of Armco in succession.

 

[darkfinal]

He's already had a reaction, saying there was no reason to be punished... But if he did the same, he would have been found guilty inmediately.

 

[RACECAR]

*hazards a guess*

Stick his bottom-lip out, claim McLaren/Ron Dennis hate him and behave erratically on the track, to eventually claim a second respectful DNF at the hands of Armco in succession.

Heh, Possibly

 

[<_Spike_>]

Heh I could see some people being happy at what Lewis said...

"There's been a lot of pressured situations lately where I've been made to look the bad guy. If this is how it's going to carry on, I don't think it's a place I want to be"

So...really well done to the people in and out of the sport for making him wrongfully look a bad guy in the sport from time to time, he's already suggested leaving F1.

 

[Sureboss]

Fascinating race, I think suggesting that Lewis contributed to Vettel rearing Webber (ooer) is stupid, I think the conditions were almost impossible for the drivers, maybe Vettel could've been more alert.

 

[RACECAR]

Looks like Alonso and Dennis are at a boiling point:

Ron Dennis has criticized Fernando Alonso for implying that he has not had equal treatment with Lewis Hamilton this year.

In a press conference in Shanghai on Thursday Alonso was asked whether the team could have handicapped him with unfavorable tire pressures or other car settings. Alonso said simply, “Difficult question... I will not answer,” a response that was clearly calculated to stir things up.Dennis was not amused, and made that very apparent today when questioned on the subject.

“Going into the Japanese Grand Prix Fernando was two points behind Lewis,” said the McLaren boss. “I think the Grand Prix season so far, in respect of our two cars, their reliability, their competitiveness and the way that our team has conducted itself leaves nobody in Formula 1 with the view that we do anything other than provide equality to both of our drivers.
 
“There are numerous equality clauses in our contracts. They are reciprocal in both drivers’ contracts and it is a well known fact that we do not favor – even in very, very difficult circumstances, even in the level of competitiveness and the spirit of competitiveness that sits between our drivers – we never will, never have and certainly are not favoring either driver at the moment.
 
“This is a straight fight and I’m obviously disappointed that someone who really has all the knowledge should not be more direct and open with the response which is: equality is how we run our team.”

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Looks like Alonso and Dennis are at a boiling point:

Ron Dennis has criticized Fernando Alonso for implying that he has not had equal treatment with Lewis Hamilton this year.

In a press conference in Shanghai on Thursday Alonso was asked whether the team could have handicapped him with unfavorable tire pressures or other car settings. Alonso said simply, &#8220;Difficult question... I will not answer,&#8221; a response that was clearly calculated to stir things up.Dennis was not amused, and made that very apparent today when questioned on the subject.

&#8220;Going into the Japanese Grand Prix Fernando was two points behind Lewis,&#8221; said the McLaren boss. &#8220;I think the Grand Prix season so far, in respect of our two cars, their reliability, their competitiveness and the way that our team has conducted itself leaves nobody in Formula 1 with the view that we do anything other than provide equality to both of our drivers.

&#8220;There are numerous equality clauses in our contracts. They are reciprocal in both drivers&#8217; contracts and it is a well known fact that we do not favor &#8211; even in very, very difficult circumstances, even in the level of competitiveness and the spirit of competitiveness that sits between our drivers &#8211; we never will, never have and certainly are not favoring either driver at the moment.

&#8220;This is a straight fight and I&#8217;m obviously disappointed that someone who really has all the knowledge should not be more direct and open with the response which is: equality is how we run our team.&#8221;

Fixed... the code function doesn't word wrap text.

...and moved response to a more appropriate thread.

 

[RACECAR]

Fixed... the code function doesn't word wrap text.

Oh, okay. I always thought the quote function only works with user posts.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

Heh I could see some people being happy at what Lewis said...

"There's been a lot of pressured situations lately where I've been made to look the bad guy. If this is how it's going to carry on, I don't think it's a place I want to be"

So...really well done to the people in and out of the sport for making him wrongfully look a bad guy in the sport from time to time, he's already suggested leaving F1.

So why did he sign a 5 year contract?

This reminds me of Alonso's "F1 is no longer a sport" from last year.

 

[<_Spike_>]

Would you want to stick around if you were constantly being made out to be the bad guy and pressured every step of the way? Not to mention driving with a team-mate who has some major issues.

 

[peterjford]

Would you want to stick around if you were constantly being made out to be the bad guy and pressured every step of the way? Not to mention driving with a team-mate who has some major issues.

Sounds like the exact same thing people could say about Alonso.

Personally I don't think Hamilton's issues are as bad as Alonso's, but that is just my opinion.

Go Sato!

 

[Digital-Nitrate]

Would you want to stick around if you were constantly being made out to be the bad guy and pressured every step of the way? Not to mention driving with a team-mate who has some major issues.

...and being paid more than $20 million dollars a year and more than twice that amount in endorsements driving one of the best cars and likely as the reining champion? I'd have myself committed to an insane asylum if I didn't stick around for such basic level of pressure and stress that comes from personal attacks.

Heck, I'd not only put up with the name calling, and any other form of pressure anyone wants to place on me, but I'd also be willing to forgo any financial payment just to have the opportunity to be a driver in F1, let alone one getting paid oooodles of money to drive one of the best cars.

 

[<_Spike_>]

When I say issues in regards to Alonso, I mean personality and in the head. He needs himself sorted out...big time.

Anyway, you forget, this is a guy who has said "I will not ask for a pay rise" so I don't think the money is going to keep him in a job that (if the pressure and accusations get too much) he won't want to stick with.

 

[Roo]

It could be suggested that Hamilton said "I will not ask for a pay rise" because he knew he was going to get one anyway.

 

[ExigeEvan]

When I say issues in regards to Alonso, I mean personality and in the head. He needs himself sorted out...big time.

Anyway, you forget, this is a guy who has said "I will not ask for a pay rise" so I don't think the money is going to keep him in a job that (if the pressure and accusations get too much) he won't want to stick with.

Hamilton never needed a pay rise, his contract was riddled with so many bonuses.

 

[Metar]

Anyway, you forget, this is a guy who has said "I will not ask for a pay rise" so I don't think the money is going to keep him in a job that (if the pressure and accusations get too much) he won't want to stick with.

It could be suggested that Hamilton said "I will not ask for a pay rise" because he knew he was going to get one anyway.

Roo's sounds far more logical, especially after his reply to Coulthard when the latter commented that Lewis should wait with selling books and the likes, and he replied that he "had to make money somehow in the meanwhile".

After all, having your teammate earning 20 million while you're stuck with 250 thousand... That's 80-fold! But again - it's the rookie year. Alonso has proven himself, and earned his money. Hamilton was a great success - but might just as well have been a bit of a flop. So, McLaren saved themselves a couple of millions, and got an excellent driver signed for the next five years as well. Though with the kind of success he had this year, his pay could end up very, very high next year...

 

[Blake]

Well the contract that he has been offered was $110 million over 4 years, which is high but not really extraordinary. However, I believe it allows him to make money off personal sponsorship, which many contracts these days don&#8217;t.