Alonso comeback
Discussion
He's not gone yet but in the future could Alonso make a successful return? Do drivers lose that superhuman ability once out of regular F1 racing?
A lesson seems to come from Shumacher's comeback where you were pretty happy to see him back and keen for it to work but he never really showed that well.
Was looking for the stats and found JA had helpfully done an article.
https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/11/schumacher-...
A lesson seems to come from Shumacher's comeback where you were pretty happy to see him back and keen for it to work but he never really showed that well.
Was looking for the stats and found JA had helpfully done an article.
https://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2012/11/schumacher-...
Schumacher returned to a very different sport than the one he had left three years earlier. He'd gone from unlimited testing on robust Bridgestone tyres to very limited testing on chocolate Pirellis. It wasn't a huge surprise that he couldn't adapt as well those who had driven continuously through these changes.
Niki Lauda had two-and-a-bit years off after his first retirement, then came back and won another WDC title, so it certainly can be done.
Niki Lauda had two-and-a-bit years off after his first retirement, then came back and won another WDC title, so it certainly can be done.
HustleRussell said:
What F1 opportunities is Alonso going to have in F1 in 2020 or later which he doesn't have in 2019?
He can race in F1 but not in a winning team. Same same.
I think his only hope is that McLaren get their st together. As long as Zak Brown is still in charge and has his tongue up Alonso's backside then they'll take him back, although as long as Zak Brown is in charge can they get their st together?He can race in F1 but not in a winning team. Same same.
thegreenhell said:
HustleRussell said:
What F1 opportunities is Alonso going to have in F1 in 2020 or later which he doesn't have in 2019?
He can race in F1 but not in a winning team. Same same.
I think his only hope is that McLaren get their st together. As long as Zak Brown is still in charge and has his tongue up Alonso's backside then they'll take him back, although as long as Zak Brown is in charge can they get their st together?He can race in F1 but not in a winning team. Same same.
Any team which is now 'second tier' will remain second tier until 2021 at the earliest.
If they had massive money to splash about, or an integrated, motivated, world-beating workforce under convincing management, I'd be less pessimistic about my long time favourite team, but there y'go.
I know you weren't necessarily suggesting the McLaren comeback was probable, by the way. Let alone in the next few years.
Nobody will ever catch up.For that to happen the teams at the front have to stand still.
Its a bit like the special class at school.Those kids wont catch up they will just be made to feel valued at a lower speed.
If all the teams were given a lower spec to attain then maybe Mclaren and Renault have the capability to attain the new lower requirement.
At the end of this process maybe 5-6 teams can win. Could take many years and by then a rotund Alonso will be contented elsewhere. I guess.
Its a bit like the special class at school.Those kids wont catch up they will just be made to feel valued at a lower speed.
If all the teams were given a lower spec to attain then maybe Mclaren and Renault have the capability to attain the new lower requirement.
At the end of this process maybe 5-6 teams can win. Could take many years and by then a rotund Alonso will be contented elsewhere. I guess.
thegreenhell said:
Schumacher returned to a very different sport than the one he had left three years earlier. He'd gone from unlimited testing on robust Bridgestone tyres to very limited testing on chocolate Pirellis. It wasn't a huge surprise that he couldn't adapt as well those who had driven continuously through these changes.
Niki Lauda had two-and-a-bit years off after his first retirement, then came back and won another WDC title, so it certainly can be done.
IMO that is why he came back. Suddenly f1 wasnt forced to be a 7 day a week job endlessly testing. The enforced limited running and testing meant he could enoy the racing and still have a life. Niki Lauda had two-and-a-bit years off after his first retirement, then came back and won another WDC title, so it certainly can be done.
Joe Saward on Missed Apex podcast around 12 minutes in says Alonso isn't the same since Hamilton beat him at McLaren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
skinny said:
Kimi came back after a couple years out and is probably at the same level as when he left
Na, he's a shadow of his 2002-2007 days. Age eventually catches up with all F1 drivers. And when they have kids that affects motivation too.It's not as bad in the case of Prost and Mansell who only took one year and then returned to the same regulations. But when you do a M.Schumacher and have over three years out and return at 41 with different regs... that's tough
carinaman said:
Joe Saward on Missed Apex podcast around 12 minutes in says Alonso isn't the same since Hamilton beat him at McLaren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
Joe Saward needs to see a doctor.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
So long as he keeps racing, keeps his edge, and doesn't stay away too long I wouldnt rule it out. Bury the hatchet with a desperate ferrari maybe?
Mansell kept racing, prost was only gone a year and came back for the quickest car, wheras schumacher was retired from professional racing for a while and like said came back to a sport he didn't recognise, no testing, no team mate veto with all focus on himself etc.
Mansell kept racing, prost was only gone a year and came back for the quickest car, wheras schumacher was retired from professional racing for a while and like said came back to a sport he didn't recognise, no testing, no team mate veto with all focus on himself etc.
ELUSIVEJIM said:
carinaman said:
Joe Saward on Missed Apex podcast around 12 minutes in says Alonso isn't the same since Hamilton beat him at McLaren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
Joe Saward needs to see a doctor.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
Alonso being a genius driver, and not being quite the same since 2007 are not mutually exclusive statements.
On any given race day, he may also extract the most possible from the car.
Alonso is genius but flawed. Hamilton is genius with less of the destructive tendencies that Alonso has demonstrated since 2007.
Vaud said:
ELUSIVEJIM said:
carinaman said:
Joe Saward on Missed Apex podcast around 12 minutes in says Alonso isn't the same since Hamilton beat him at McLaren:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
Joe Saward needs to see a doctor.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqdWRTBDVoI
Alonso being a genius driver, and not being quite the same since 2007 are not mutually exclusive statements.
On any given race day, he may also extract the most possible from the car.
Alonso is genius but flawed. Hamilton is genius with less of the destructive tendencies that Alonso has demonstrated since 2007.
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