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From Expat-Village.com Formula 1
An ITV story by ITV-F1 commentator and former McLaren driver Martin Brundle at http://www.itv.com What does Fernando Alonso's defection to McLaren mean for Formula 1? How will it effect the driver market and what will it do the balance of power? Well ITV-F1 commentator and former McLaren ace Martin Brundle for one reckons that signing the world champion has firmly swung things in Ron Dennis's favour.Here Martin gives us his thoughts on F1's biggest story of the year. This is a classic F1 "moment", it's one of those occasions that makes the sport so intriguing. Signing Fernando Alonso is a very smart move by McLaren. And the timing of the announcement is significant because it has been done so early. I know how (McLaren team owner) Ron Dennis likes to get things out early, because it's good for the team's image, sponsorship packages and so on, but this gives them the high-ground on so many levels. It's a massive coup. It's also intriguing how McLaren has managed the internal politics. You now have two drivers looking at one seat. Effectively the music has stopped and there is one chair up for grabs. Unless one of them has already jumped ship for '07. From McLaren's point of view though this also destablises a rival team. Key Renault personnel have justifiably been making the highest praiseworthy noises recently about their World Champion driver and celebrating how well they won the world championship - and then suddenly that driver goes off and joins the season long 'enemy' right in the middle of it all. They will surely be feeling bruised at Renault. It's bound to destabilise the team and it certainly hurts them. It has a knock-on effect into mid-season as well because Renault will have to be selective when using Fernando for testing and development of future equipment. Can you imagine being in Alonso's shoes as he cruises into the pits at the next test, or during the next factory visit? From McLaren's point of view this is a masterstroke! What is also interesting is the Flavio effect, Fernando's manager. What's his personal game plan now? From Briatore and Alonso's point of view the timing of this announcement is all wrong. Why would they allow McLaren to announce this now, the week before Christmas and a full year ahead? Why would Renault accept it just when they want to milk the marketing for the championship success?
This news also says to me that Kimi may already be on his way to Ferrari. If he isn't then Fernando joining the team will certainly have enhanced McLaren's negotiating stance over Kimi for 2007. Now Kimi has less power to bring McLaren to the table and thus it makes it harder for him to go to Ferrari and say "make me a big offer." It will be interesting to see how it plays out with the breakaway teams. McLaren-Mercedes is a GPMA member and Fernando has now nailed his colours to their mast come what may. If there is a split, as continually threatened, this year's world champion might not be racing in Formula 1 in '08. Fernando's switch also makes me slightly nervous over Renault's future plans, particularly in light of Carlos Ghosn's recent remarks (the Renault CEO said that future F1 investment is dependent on car sales, not further victories). Certainly, if you were working at the Team base in Enstone, you would be feeling a little concerned right now I would imagine, which is scant reward for a brilliant effort in 2005 when they produced the most reliable and ultimately the fastest car. This news came as a surprise to everyone and as ever in Formula 1 there is more to this than meets the eye. Even in his statement Alonso said: "This is too good an opportunity to miss". I think this is a curious quote for a world champion to make on announcing he is leaving a winning team. There has got to be more going on behind the scenes. © Copyright 2003 by Expat-Village.com |
