Andrew Benson blog

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24010070

Ferrari's Massa hopes to stay as Raikkonen & Hulkenberg in frame


By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Felipe Massa says he still has a chance of staying at Ferrari next year after a strong result at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Brazilian, who has had an inconsistent season, finished fourth at Monza after Ferrari made it clear they were on the point of deciding on their 2014 line-up.
Massa is one of three drivers in the running to partner Fernando Alonso, along with Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Hulkenberg.
Massa said: "This race was important, not just for my contract but also to show the other teams what I'm able to do."

The 32-year-old, who has driven for Ferrari since 2006, said he was "still discussing" his future with the team.
Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said that the team would make their decision over the coming days.
"Listen, we have Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, [Paul] Di Resta. I have seen so many names [in the media]," Di Montezemolo told BBC Sport in an exclusive interview with F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan.
"Now we will think very, very carefully, because we don't have a gun here [pointing at is head] to decide tomorrow or after tomorrow, but after Monza this will be something I want to decide."
Montezemolo has the final decision and has in the past championed Massa, but insiders say the team would prefer to re-employ Raikkonen.
The Finn won the title for them in 2007 but was paid off a year before the end of his contract at the end of 2009, when Alonso joined Ferrari.
At the time, Ferrari felt Raikkonen was not a strong enough character out of the car to lead the team, but some senior figures now believe he and the forceful Alonso would be the ideal line-up.
Raikkonen is also considering staying at Lotus if they can give him the reassurances he feels he needs that the team have the technical and financial strength to compete at the front next season.

If Hulkenberg is not taken by Ferrari, the German has a strong chance of going to Lotus, whether or not Raikkonen leaves the team.
Hulkenberg said after finishing in a season's best fifth place for Sauber at Monza: "For weeks there has been speculation - my name, Kimi's name.
"At some point the decision has to be made and the talk has to stop and we see what happens."
Alonso insisted he had "no preference" who won the drive, but said he would be "only happy" if Massa was retained.
"It is a team decision, all the names for me are the same," he said. "I have a huge respect for Felipe. He is a great professional driver working hard in the simulator and with the team."[/b]

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24010070

Ferrari's Massa hopes to stay as Raikkonen & Hulkenberg in frame


By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Felipe Massa says he still has a chance of staying at Ferrari next year after a strong result at the Italian Grand Prix.
The Brazilian, who has had an inconsistent season, finished fourth at Monza after Ferrari made it clear they were on the point of deciding on their 2014 line-up.
Massa is one of three drivers in the running to partner Fernando Alonso, along with Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Hulkenberg.
Massa said: "This race was important, not just for my contract but also to show the other teams what I'm able to do."

The 32-year-old, who has driven for Ferrari since 2006, said he was "still discussing" his future with the team.
Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said that the team would make their decision over the coming days.
"Listen, we have Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, [Paul] Di Resta. I have seen so many names [in the media]," Di Montezemolo told BBC Sport in an exclusive interview with F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan.
"Now we will think very, very carefully, because we don't have a gun here [pointing at is head] to decide tomorrow or after tomorrow, but after Monza this will be something I want to decide."
Montezemolo has the final decision and has in the past championed Massa, but insiders say the team would prefer to re-employ Raikkonen.
The Finn won the title for them in 2007 but was paid off a year before the end of his contract at the end of 2009, when Alonso joined Ferrari.
At the time, Ferrari felt Raikkonen was not a strong enough character out of the car to lead the team, but some senior figures now believe he and the forceful Alonso would be the ideal line-up.
Raikkonen is also considering staying at Lotus if they can give him the reassurances he feels he needs that the team have the technical and financial strength to compete at the front next season.

If Hulkenberg is not taken by Ferrari, the German has a strong chance of going to Lotus, whether or not Raikkonen leaves the team.
Hulkenberg said after finishing in a season's best fifth place for Sauber at Monza: "For weeks there has been speculation - my name, Kimi's name.
"At some point the decision has to be made and the talk has to stop and we see what happens."
Alonso insisted he had "no preference" who won the drive, but said he would be "only happy" if Massa was retained.
"It is a team decision, all the names for me are the same," he said. "I have a huge respect for Felipe. He is a great professional driver working hard in the simulator and with the team."[/b]

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24016050


Kimi Raikkonen the favourite to partner Fernando Alonso at Ferrari


By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Kimi Raikkonen is the leading contender to join Ferrari as the team begin talks aimed at finalising their 2014 line-up.
The Finn is the favoured candidate to return to the team for whom he last drove in 2009 but Nico Hulkenberg and current Ferrari driver Felipe Massa are still in the frame.
Lead driver Fernando Alonso is not keen on Raikkonen joining but his relationship with Ferrari is tense after a turbulent year.
Hulkenberg could be a compromise.
Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen
Age: 33
Races: 189
Wins: 20
Podiums: 75
Pole positions: 16
Best championship position: 1st (2007)
There are widespread reports that a deal between Raikkonen and Ferrari has already been concluded, but a high-level source inside the team said on Sunday evening that was not the case, although he added that a deal was "close".
Talks to finalise the 2014 Ferrari line-up are beginning on Monday and are expected to conclude over the next few days.
Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo said in an exclusive BBC Sport interview with F1 chief analyst Eddie Jordan on Saturday: "Listen, we have Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, [Paul] Di Resta. I have seen so many names [in the media].
"Now we will think very, very carefully, because we don't have a gun here [points at his head] to decide tomorrow or after tomorrow, but after Monza this will be something I want to decide."
Raikkonen also has the option to stay at Lotus, but has concerns about whether the team have the technical and financial resources to compete at the front next year.
They have lost their highly rated former technical director James Allison to Ferrari and there have been delays paying Raikkonen's salary this year.
The Ferrari team are keen to bring back Raikkonen, who won the title for them in 2007 but was paid off a year early at the end of 2009 to make way for Alonso.
Analysis
Image of Andrew Benson
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Fernando Alonso is said not to be keen on Kimi Raikkonen joining Ferrari, but the question is whether that is because he fears him on the track or because it will inevitably take some of the focus of his team away from him.

Alonso has dominated Ferrari since he joined in 2010 and all the team's efforts are directed at him.

That would no longer be the case were Raikkonen to join. In addition, signing Raikkonen would say to the world that Ferrari were perhaps not quite as committed to Alonso as they had previously been.

Seeing Alonso and Raikkonen battle it out in equal machinery would be a prospect many would savour - it would be fascinating to find out who would come out on top.

That will be debated endlessly - as comparisons between all the top F1 drivers always are. But one engineer who has worked closely with both is in no doubt.

"I think Alonso, pretty convincingly," he said. "Everywhere - especially qualifying and the first laps of the race."

At the time, the team preferred to keep Massa. The Brazilian had out-scored Raikkonen on points in 2008 and through 2009 until he suffered a fractured skull in an accident at that year's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Although there were question marks about his recovery, the team felt they could not cast the Brazilian adrift in the circumstances.
But he has been inconsistent for the last few seasons and the Ferrari team are said to want a new face in the second car.
Montezemolo, though, has championed Massa in the past and the Brazilian had a strong Italian Grand Prix at the weekend, out-qualifying Alonso and finishing fourth.
Alonso made it clear after the race that he would be happy for Massa to stay.
The Spaniard insisted he had "no preference" who won the drive, but said he would be "only happy" if Massa was retained.
"It is a team decision - all the names for me are the same. I have a huge respect for Felipe. He is a great professional driver working hard in the simulator and with the team."
F1 has been alive with speculation about the situation at Ferrari and there have even been suggestions that Alonso could leave, despite being contracted until the end of 2016.
The 32-year-old said at the weekend that he would see out his current deal and perhaps even extend it.
But Ferrari were not happy about critical remarks he made to the team over the radio during qualifying.
These came only two races after Alonso had been publicly admonished by Di Montezemolo following the Hungarian Grand Prix in July for appearing not to be totally supportive of the team.
Play media
Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso
Formula 1: Who will drive for Ferrari in 2014?
In the unlikely event of Alonso leaving, Raikkonen would join and would probably be partnered by Massa to ensure the team had at least some driver continuity.
Assuming Alonso stays, it is most likely that it will be either Raikkonen or Hulkenberg who partners him, with Massa an outside possibility.

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McLaren to replace Sergio Perez with Kevin Magnussen in 2014


By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
McLaren have decided to sign novice Kevin Magnussen as Jenson Button's team-mate next year.
The Dane's contract is not signed but team principal Martin Whitmarsh is set to give him the drive, sources say.
McLaren have chosen to promote the 21-year-old in place of Sergio Perez, who joined ahead of the current season, after conducting extensive analysis.
"We haven't confirmed our driver line-up. We haven't signed contracts with drivers," said Whitmarsh.
Who is Kevin Magnussen?
Kevin Magnussen
1992 - Born in Roskilde, Denmark. Son of former McLaren and Stewart driver Jan Magnussen

2008 - Makes debut in Formula Ford

2009 - Joins McLaren's Young Driver Programme in 2009

2010 - Three wins in German Formula 3

2011 - Second in British Formula 3 championship with seven race wins

2012 - Becomes McLaren development driver

2013 - Wins Formula Renault 3.5 feeder series

"We are still talking about that. There has been a lot of honest feedback both ways, which is best done in private not in public. We'll see in the future."
Magnussen, the winner of the Formula Renault 3.5 feeder series this year, is set to be the first rookie driver to be taken on by McLaren since Lewis Hamilton in 2007.
Perez has been linked with a potential move to Force India in 2014. He joined McLaren for this season as a replacement for Hamilton but the team have been underwhelmed by his performances.
In an uncompetitive season for McLaren in which they have failed to score a podium for the first time since 1980, Perez has taken 35 points to Button's 60.
The 23-year-old has scored points in the last two races, including a fifth place in India that matches Button's best result of the season.
But the team have spent the week since the last race in Abu Dhabi analysing his performances and concluded that Perez has a speed deficit to Button that he will probably never be able to bridge.
The race in Abu Dhabi was a case in point - despite being on a slower strategy, Button made up 23 seconds on Perez after a pit stop on the second lap to replace a damaged front wing.
Perez finished ninth after starting eighth on the grid. Button was 12th after dropping to the back following his unscheduled pit stop on lap two.
Asked if Perez had done a good enough job to be retained in 2014, Whitmarsh said: "He's done a good job; we're still taking to him.
"We have not provided either of our drivers with a good enough race car.
"In those circumstances Sergio has been a great team member, he's made a spirited contribution, had some exciting races, some really good races, ruffled some feathers, and done a pretty good job thorough the year.
"Abu Dhabi was difficult. It was not the result he and we wanted but difficult weekends happen.
"He's a clever guy and a good driver for anyone next year, including ourselves."
Play media
McLaren's Sergio Perez
Formula 1 was not Sergio Perez's first career choice
Magnussen is the son of former F1 driver Jan Magnussen, who also made his debut for McLaren, in the 1995 Pacific Grand Prix.
He is one of two young drivers contracted to McLaren whom the team rate as potential future world champions. The other is Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne, who was second to Magnussen in Formula Renault 3.5 this year.
McLaren's analysis of Magnussen's performance in their simulator suggests he is already faster than Perez, and he has been extremely impressive in his two F1 tests for McLaren, at Abu Dhabi in November 2012 and at Silverstone in July 2013.
Magnussen is more experienced than Vandoorne, whom McLaren believe is not quite ready for F1 yet. Whitmarsh has hinted strongly McLaren will find a seat for him in the GP2 feeder series in 2014.
Whitmarsh said he expected Vandoorne to be a McLaren driver "one day".
The team are determined to find a place for the 21-year-old in F1 in the next couple of seasons as well.
McLaren remain committed to trying to prise double world champion Fernando Alonso away from Ferrari for 2015 and, if they succeed, next season will effectively be a shoot-out between Button and Magnussen to see who would partner the Spaniard.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/24903504

[julesIII]

McLaren to replace Sergio Perez with Kevin Magnussen in 2014

Para Mclaren , todo piloto proveniente de latitudes inferiores al paralelo 45 no es tal , si acaso un empleado temporal para ocupar el asiento en espera de nuevas promesas de los paises "como Dios manda" o sea...paralelo 45 para arriba (en
hemisferio Norte, claro, despues tienen sus excepciones en el Sur)
Fijaos como han salido de ahí en los últimos años los tres pilotos de origen hispano..Juan Pablo Montoya, Fernando Alonso y ahora Checo Perez...les exprimen el talento o la pasta y fuera...!

..ahora a ver que "boquita" se le queda al bocazas de Sergio Perez, que para hacer méritos en su llegada a Mclaren comentaba que en Sauber tenia "ordenes" de ponerle las cosas "fáciles" a Fernando...

je,je...y como posdata...si te metes en una madriguera de serpientes , lo más posible es que te piquen...está en su naturaleza...aviso para navegantes...!

[maripi]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/25035783

Fernando Alonso on frustration at Ferrari, Vettel and the future


By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
The question touches a raw nerve, but Fernando Alonso does not flinch. Does it hurt to be regarded as a great racing driver but not to be able to convert that standing into more than his two titles?
"A little bit, yes," the Ferrari team leader says. "I still believe that I have many years in front of me to recover some of the championships that I could have won probably, like 2010 and 2012. They are clearly examples.
"Inside, I am still thinking that when I retire I will have more than two. I don't know how many, but I will have more than two.
"If I cannot achieve that it will be a shame, it will be sad, because I had so many opportunities - but at the moment I am thinking we will have more opportunities and the next ones we will not lose any more."
Fernando Alonso in numbers
Debut: 2001 Australian Grand Prix
Races: 216
Titles: 2 (2005, 2006)
Wins: 32
Podiums: 94
Poles: 22
Fastest laps: 21
Points: 1,591
Alonso looks tired and a little pale as he talks in the Ferrari building in the paddock at the United States Grand Prix for a BBC interview that will be broadcast before Sunday's Brazilian race.
The 32-year-old Spaniard is famous for being Formula 1's most relentless and determined competitor, but in the circumstances his careworn appearance is understandable.
For one thing, Alonso is still recovering from a nasty incident in the previous race in Abu Dhabi, when a 150mph trip over the kerbs avoiding Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne jarred his back and left him with a week of bad headaches and, as he puts it, "difficult nights".
For another, a long F1 season is inching to its conclusion, a year that promised so much for Ferrari only for their challenge to collapse again, swept aside by the juggernaut of Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel.
Appropriately for a man who is fascinated by Far Eastern philosophy, Alonso is almost Zen-like in his stillness throughout the 15-minute interview with Lee McKenzie.
Sitting back in a plastic chair behind a table, only his right hand moves - occasionally to touch his face, at other times to gently stroke the table with a thumb.
Alonso has long been one of F1's better interviewees, but today he is in a particularly frank mood, and the tranquillity of his presence emphasises the power of his words.
He knows full well that, but for a couple of agonising twists of fate, it would be him with four world titles and Vettel on 'only' two, rather than the other way around.
Instead, it is Vettel who has this year entered an exclusive club of four-time champions, alongside only Juan Manuel Fangio, Michael Schumacher and Alain Prost. Does Alonso himself consider the Red Bull driver as a great driver to rank alongside such names?

"Time will tell us," he says. "There are many years [to go in his career].
"He is 26 years old, so when he will have a car like the others, if he wins, he will have a great recognition and be one of the legends in F1. When one day he has a car like the others and he is fourth, fifth, seventh, these four titles will be bad news for him because people will take these four titles even in a worse manner than they are doing now.
"So there are interesting times for Sebastian coming."
The barb - that Vettel has been able to dominate only because his car is on another level from the rest - is implied, but unmistakable.
Alonso is regarded by many - including several rivals - as the greatest active driver in F1. Yet he won the second of his world titles way back in 2006, and this is the third time in four years he has been Vettel's closest challenger only to lose out in the end. He has not troubled to hide that it has been difficult for him to go through it again.
"There has," he admits, "been a lot of frustration in the [Ferrari] team, no doubt. We were hoping every year to do well and to fight for the World Championship.
"When Red Bull dominate the sport one year it is OK. They have great aerodynamics; they have a great team.
"When it happens two years, frustration grows a little bit, [but] it can be because of the blowing exhaust or the double diffuser or something like that. When it is happening constantly every year there are more frustrations and the atmosphere in all the other teams is getting a little worse and a little more in a sad mood, let's say.
"So it is up to us; we cannot let things go down for us. It is time to deliver even more. It is time to work even harder. And we try to motivate each other.
"But from outside it is normal that we receive only bad news and bad questions. Because we are Ferrari, we should deliver, win races, compete with the best. We are not doing so, so the bad questions or sad feeling from the outside and from our fans are understandable."
The frustration peaked in the summer, when the reality of Red Bull's performance and Ferrari's own inability to progress was first dawning.
Red Bull sources told this and other media organisations that Alonso's management had approached them offering his services for 2014. The information sent the F1 rumour mill into overdrive and led to problems at Ferrari.
Alonso in Formula 1

When a TV crew asked Alonso after the Hungarian Grand Prix what he would like for his birthday, he replied: "Someone else's car." The next day Ferrari revealed on their website that their president Luca Di Montezemolo had phoned Alonso to wish him happy birthday, but also to "tweak his ear" and remind him of his responsibilities.
Now - as then - Alonso insists there was no approach to Red Bull.
"No, no, nothing at all, it was only rumours," he says, adding: "This year there have been more rumours than any other year, not only for me, but about [Nico] Hulkenberg, about Kimi [Raikkonen]. At the beginning of the year with Multi 21 [when Vettel ignored team orders not to overtake Mark Webber in Malaysia], there were a lot of things going on for two or three races even inside Red Bull.
"It has been a strange season, but from my side, zero, zero talks with anyone."
Why not, he is asked, given Ferrari's struggles to prepare a car worthy of his talent?
"Well," he says, "first of all because I have a contract [until 2016], which I need to respect and am happy to respect. Second because I trust Ferrari can do a good job and I trust that every year.
"It is true that for four years we did not have that possibility but for next year there are big changes in the rules. No-one in the paddock can point at one team and say they can dominate next year, so it is a random choice you could make if you move teams.
"I think I am in the best team to win next year and we will try to do so."
He is less sanguine when discussing tyres.
Alonso has been highly critical of Pirelli this season. That's not only because the fragility of the original 2013 tyres forced a reversion to last year's design, which favoured Red Bull, but also because the tyres are still not durable enough to allow drivers to race hard throughout a grand prix, one of Alonso's biggest strengths.
"The tyres were not good enough this year and this is the truth," he says. "It is strange to see Pirelli sometimes blaming me or Mark [Webber] or something. It is just because they were too nervous.
"The situation was out of control probably and they tried to mask a little bit the problem but, you know, we saw so many tyre failures that are not good for the sport and the fans, and are dangerous for drivers.
Play media
Murray Walker on Fernando Alonso
F1's greatest drivers - Number 10: Fernando Alonso
"We want one tyre that can last a race and can make a good show and this should not be too difficult when all the tyres are the same for everyone."
Now, with second in the drivers' championship secured and just Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix to go, Alonso admits he is "counting the days" to the end of the season.
Although many predict fireworks when another former world champion Raikkonen joins Ferrari from Lotus next year, Alonso dismisses that notion, saying "we have the experience to deal with the problems if they come" and adding that he expects there to be a "performance advantage" for both as they "push each other to the limit".
More important for Alonso is the chance to recharge his batteries and start again, hoping it will be eighth time lucky for him to win that elusive third title.
"We [already] want [it] to be Sunday night in Brazil, packing everything, go back to Maranello, put this in one side of the factory, close off for a little while and completely focus all the efforts and motivations on 2014.
"We have new engineers, new designers coming from other teams, big names like [new technical director] James Allison and other key people from Formula 1, and we need to deliver. It is time to deliver and next year everyone in the factory feels it is time to do it."
How much it will hurt if Ferrari fall short again is left unsaid.

[maripi]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/25400798

Fernando Alonso: Ron Dennis would not stop return to McLaren


By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
McLaren chairman Ron Dennis says he would have no problem if Fernando Alonso rejoined the Formula 1 team.
The two men fell out dramatically when Alonso raced for McLaren in 2007.
But asked if he would object to the Spaniard returning, Dennis said: "One has to recognise the first objective of any grand prix team is to win races.

"Whatever obstacles sit between a team wanting to win and winning, be it engineering, fiscal or human issues, you resolve them. You never say never."
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh initially tried to sign the double world champion for 2014 following tensions between Alonso and Ferrari this season, but has now switched his attentions to getting him for 2015.
Alonso, runner-up to Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel in three of the last four seasons, is contracted to Ferrari until the end of 2016 and said in September that he hoped to extend his stay with the Italian team.
"I have three more years with Ferrari and I hope many more to come if we can extend the contract and that would be my hope," said Alonso.
Nevertheless, Whitmarsh is hoping to persuade the 2005 and 2006 world champion to join McLaren for 2015, when the team start their new engine partnership with Japanese firm Honda.
A fortnight ago, Whitmarsh attended the opening of an exhibition in Madrid that showcases artefacts from Alonso's racing career.
Officially, Whitmarsh went as one of Alonso's former F1 team bosses, even though, strictly speaking, Dennis ran McLaren at the time the Spaniard was with the team.
But sources close to McLaren say Whitmarsh also took a contract for Alonso to assess.
Ron Dennis and Fernando Alonso
During Fernando Alonso's 2007 season with McLaren, in which Ron Dennis was team principal, infighting led to ugly headlines as the Spaniard insisted he was signed to be lead driver and not challenged by his rookie team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

A McLaren spokesman confirmed Whitmarsh and Alonso met in Madrid, adding the two enjoyed "a very good relationship", but insisted their conversations had "focused" on the exhibition.
Alonso's manager, Luis Garcia Abad, dismissed notions that a contract had already been agreed between the driver and McLaren as "Formula 1 fiction".
"You cannot have two signed contracts, as when you sign one, you must notify the body that controls it," Abad said. "So it is technically impossible."
He added that "an unsigned agreement is not an agreement".
Alonso holds Dennis responsible for the breakdown of relations between him and McLaren in 2007.
Speaking in September, Alonso said: "I always said that there are no problems with anyone, it was just the philosophy of the team, especially one man in the team that is not there [anymore]."
The Ferrari driver has also made it clear he would not return if Dennis had any involvement in the F1 programme.
Currently, Dennis has non-executive status and no authority over the F1 team.
However, he is said to be trying to increase his shareholding from its current level of 25% and re-establish his position as head of the F1 operation.
It also emerged last week that Dennis had informally sounded out former Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, who says he will take six months out from the sport, about joining McLaren.
Alonso in Formula One
2001: Minardi
2002: Renault test driver
2003-2006: Renault, where he became world champion in 2005 and 2006.
2007: McLaren
2008-2009: Renault
2010-present: Ferrari
The problems between Dennis and Alonso began when Alonso was promised priority status within the team when he joined them in 2007.
However, when the season started, Alonso discovered Lewis Hamilton had been given permission to challenge him.
Alonso made it clear to Dennis he felt McLaren risked throwing away the title if they did not prioritise one driver over the other and continued to press his point.
As a result, their relationship deteriorated and finally collapsed over a tumultuous weekend at the 2007 Hungarian Grand Prix, where, in a row with Dennis, Alonso threatened to reveal incriminating information about McLaren to governing body the FIA.
The information would have undermined McLaren's position in the spy-gate scandal, in which a McLaren employee was found in possession of significant amounts of confidential Ferrari technical information.
Alonso later withdrew the threat and apologised to Dennis, but by then the McLaren chief had already phoned then FIA president Max Mosley to tell him what had happened.
McLaren had been cleared of wrongdoing at an initial hearing but a phone call from Dennis to Mosley resulted in a further hearing, at which McLaren were fined £49.2m and thrown out of that year's constructors' championship.

[maripi]

El presidente de McLaren Ron Dennis dice que no tendría ningún problema si Fernando Alonso se reunió con el equipo de Fórmula 1.
Los dos hombres cayeron dramáticamente cuando Alonso corrió para McLaren en 2007.
Pero se le preguntó si se opondría a que el español de regresar, Dennis dijo: "Uno tiene que reconocer que el primer objetivo de cualquier equipo de Gran Premio es ganar carreras.

"Lo que los obstáculos se sientan entre un equipo con ganas de ganar y ganar, ya sea de ingeniería, fiscal o de las cuestiones humanas, a resolverlas. Nunca digas nunca."
Director del equipo McLaren, Martin Whitmarsh, inicialmente trató de firmar el doble campeón del mundo de 2014 tras las tensiones entre Alonso y Ferrari esta temporada, pero ahora ha cambiado su atención a él conseguir para el año 2015.
Alonso, segundo por detrás de Red Bull Sebastian Vettel en tres de las últimas cuatro temporadas, se contrata a Ferrari hasta el final de 2016 y dijo en septiembre que espera prolongar su estancia con el equipo italiano.
"Tengo tres años más con Ferrari y espero que muchos más por venir si podemos ampliar el contrato y que sería mi esperanza", dijo Alonso.
Sin embargo, Whitmarsh espera persuadir al campeón del mundo de 2005 y 2006 para unirse a McLaren para el 2015, cuando el equipo se inicia su nueva asociación con motor de firma japonesa Honda.
Hace quince días, Whitmarsh asistió a la inauguración de una exposición en Madrid que exhibe artefactos de carrera deportiva de Alonso.
Oficialmente, Whitmarsh se fue como uno de los ex jefes de equipo de F1 de Alonso, a pesar de que, en sentido estricto, Dennis corrió McLaren en el momento en que el español estuvo con el equipo.
Pero fuentes cercanas a McLaren dice Whitmarsh también tuvo un contrato de Alonso de evaluar.
Ron Dennis y Fernando Alonso
Durante la temporada de Fernando Alonso 2007 con McLaren, en la que Ron Dennis era el director del equipo, la lucha interna dio lugar a titulares feos como el español insistió en que se firmó como piloto principal y no cuestionado por su novato compañero de equipo Lewis Hamilton.

Un portavoz de McLaren confirmó Whitmarsh y Alonso se reunieron en Madrid, añadiendo los dos disfrutaron de "una muy buena relación", pero insistió en que sus conversaciones habían "centrado" en la exposición.
El manager de Alonso, Luis García Abad, rechazó las nociones de que el contrato ya había sido acordado entre el conductor y McLaren como "Fórmula 1 ficción".
"No se puede tener dos contratos firmados, como cuando se inscriba uno, debe comunicar al órgano que lo controla", dijo Abad. "Por lo que es técnicamente imposible."
Agregó que "un acuerdo no firmado no es un acuerdo".
Alonso sostiene Dennis responsable de la ruptura de las relaciones entre él y McLaren en 2007.
Hablando en septiembre, Alonso dijo: "Siempre he dicho que no hay problemas con nadie, era sólo la filosofía del equipo, sobre todo un hombre en el equipo que no está allí [más]."
El piloto de Ferrari también ha dejado claro que no volvería si Dennis tuvo ninguna participación en el programa de F1.
Actualmente, Dennis tiene la condición de no ejecutivo, y ninguna autoridad sobre el equipo de F1.
Sin embargo, se dice que está tratando de aumentar su participación accionaria de su nivel actual del 25% y volver a establecer su posición como jefe de la operación de F1.
También se supo la semana pasada que Dennis había sonado informalmente al ex director del equipo Mercedes, Ross Brawn, que dice que va a tomar seis meses fuera del deporte, en unirse a McLaren.
Alonso en la Fórmula Uno
2001: Minardi
Piloto de pruebas de Renault: 2002
2003-2006: Renault, donde se convirtió en campeón del mundo en 2005 y 2006.
2007: McLaren
2008-2009: Renault
2010-presente: Ferrari
Los problemas entre Dennis y Alonso comenzaron cuando Alonso se le prometió estado de prioridad dentro del equipo, cuando se unió a ellos en 2007.
Sin embargo, cuando comenzó la temporada, Alonso descubrió Lewis Hamilton se había dado permiso para retarlo.
Alonso dejó claro que Dennis se sentía McLaren arriesgó tirar el título si no se priorizan un conductor sobre el otro y continuó presionando su punto.
Como resultado, su relación se deterioró y finalmente se derrumbó durante un fin de semana agitado en el Gran Premio de Hungría de 2007, donde, en una fila con Dennis, Alonso amenazó con revelar información incriminatoria sobre McLaren al cuerpo directivo de la FIA.
La información que habría socavado la posición de McLaren en el escándalo de espionaje-gate, en la que se encontró un empleado de McLaren en posesión de grandes cantidades de información técnica confidencial de Ferrari.
Alonso retiró posteriormente la amenaza y pidió disculpas a Dennis, pero para entonces el jefe de McLaren ya había llamado por teléfono y luego presidente de la FIA, Max Mosley, para decirle lo que había pasado.
McLaren había sido limpiado de malas acciones en una audiencia inicial, pero una llamada telefónica de Dennis a Mosley dio lugar a una nueva audiencia, en la que McLaren fue multado con EUR 49,2 millones y expulsado del campeonato de constructores de ese año.

[maripi]

Creo que todo se esta preparando para la reunion en el 2015.