Alonso restless after French GP

[Dare]

Speculation is mounting about Fernando Alonso's future at Renault, after the former two-time world champion once again failed to gain a podium place at a Grand Prix.

Alonso finished the French GP at Magny Cours in eighth place, and afterwards said that the team was not equiped to challenge for the top spots.
He said: "On Saturday and before the race we were optimistic, but we need to be realistic.

"We are really only fighting in the middle of the grid.

"If you are slow and you can't get into a rhythm, your strategy doesn't matter."

There also seems to be some discord behind the scenes, with one mechanic reportedly saying: "Fernando thinks only about Fernando. (In Canada) he wasn't even at the after-race briefing."

Despite this, chief engineer Pat Symonds insists Alonso is needed at the French outfit, saying: "The bottom line is that we are the best choice for him.

"If he would drive with us out of this crisis, he would be a hero."

[Alianora La Canta]

However fast Alonso is, he clearly hasn't learned how to win friends and influence people off-track. This could present an insurmountable stumbling block to his future career. Lucky Flavio thinks he's fantastic, else he really would be in trouble.

[Steven Roy]

It is quite clear that the only reason he was popular in his first spell with Renault because the team were on the up or at the top.  Now he is under pressure he has to show that he can lead the team.  He should have learned from Schumacher's behaviour early in his Ferrari career.  I have never been a Schumacher fan but his behaviour from 96 until Ferrari was sorted was incredible.  Alonso doesn't seem to get that side of things.  The big question is do Honda need him if he is not ready to lead a team?

[Ian]

And thats the only reason he was twice WDC, Renault were the top dogs

[John S]

Come on guys Renault didn't have the dominance that Williams, McLaren and Ferrari have sometimes had in a season, so Ferd didn't have it all his own way when he won his WDCs.

I don't like his whineing either but he is still a top class driver, but even the best drivers need a car capable of challenging at the front regularly to stand any chance of winning the championship.

[Alianora La Canta]

Even in the 2005-2006 period, there were times when Alonso would say something that would have demotivated a lesser team (the fallout from China 2006 being the classic example of this). Renault accepted (and still accept) Fernando's tactlessness because of his other skills (which I have to admit are many and varied), but McLaren wee not so tolerant and I suspect other teams would be in the middle. It's career-limiting, but I do worry that in this less-than-optimum situation, Alonso's tendency to say the wrong thing in the wrong space at the wrong time may stretch Renault's goodwill.

[Willy]

I can agree with John S that Alonso is a top class driver but he needs to learn to look ahead and focus on the task at hand and not whinge about the lack of car he is sitting in. Check out Kimi's attitude and how he dealt with the ever self-distructing Maclaren he had.
He simply put it behind him, looked forward to the next race and got on with the job.

Fernando can learn alot from the Kimster.

[Dare]

I have to agree with John too,in both his
WDC seasons Kimi and MS gave him all
he wanted

Mcclaren reliability cost Kimi the title and
MS's little stunt at Monaco combined with
Ferrari's first engine failure n years gave him
the other

[jontywilliams]

???? Wierd. Alonso fluked his two worldchampionships? You got to be smoking something.

[johnbull]

Alonso is tops as far as driving is concerned - but only when things are going for him. As soon as things get tough he can't stand the heat - see his behaviour last year at Macca and also this year to date.

Shumi was the exact opposite. If things were going wrong he didn't go blabbing to the rest of the world. He kept it within the team and the team worked on it together.

The surprise one in all this has been Kimi, who is dealing with things in the same professional manner Michael always did.

I think we are all in agreement that we never quite expected this diplomatic approach from Kimi. Nando could learn a bit from that.

[romephius]

My honest opinion is that I always thought Shumi was arrogant... but proffessional, Alonso is a whiny child with some driving skill (little better than button) and Kimi strikes me exactly the same as Shumi... world class all the way.....

Rom

[Dare]

???? Wierd. Alonso fluked his two worldchampionships? You got to be smoking something.

what part of what I said do you not agree with?

Kimi didn't have realability problems or
Michael didn't give him all he wanted?

And no I don't smoke

[Dare]

one example of Kimi 2005 luck

[Mitch14]

alonso is a good driver when he wants to be but his unsportsmanship like Hungary 2007 in the pits (although i didnt mind as he was blocking hamilton) makes him look like a bad guy

[Ian]

Yup, Kimi was unlucky, all Alonso can blame is his own bad driving, it's not unusual tho' is it.