So good to hear the rumors flying around. I keep looking (in F1 magazine and in Autosport) for some kind of 'guidance' from the F1 wizards as to what the hell is happening with 2-Time-WDC Fernando Alonso? And all I get is assurances that next year some chap named Hamilton will be making everyone in F1 eat his dust. It's so bad that Bishop, who had been the editor of F1, is now going to WORK FOR McLaren! So it's hard to believe the chaps at his old workplace are going to have much to say about red cars.
Nobody I have talked to here in Indy has a clue what Alonso either will do or even is LIKELY to do!!
Lacking a cousin who lives in Maranello (as Julian, apparently has), I have no source to call on but this forum.
Now, as many have pointed out, Fernando has had problems in the past with team-mates out qualifying him. And granted he was hardly 'exemplary' with regard to public relations in '07. But he still is OBVIOUSLY the only driver on the grid who beat Michael Schumacher (for two years running!!) while driving a car built in FRANCE. And he was still in contention for the WDC at the last race in Brazil this year, this time driving a car built in England. WDC's NOT driving red cars tend to relish beating them, but they always know that when they're beaten it was the car that beat them, not the driver. So.
It is hard to believe that he doesn't want to drive a red car. And it is hard to believe that, given the chance, he would say no to Ferrari.
From which, I conclude, Ferrari have not given him the opportunity.
So it makes a certain amount of sense for him to take Honda up on their offer. And to keep it confidential as long as possible.
Why? you say?
Marketing my dear chaps (and ladies). Here's an elementary marketing concept: never let the competition know what you're planning. It keeps your name in the buyer's minds even as they drop the cash for a competitor's product. And as long as your name is high on everyone's list, your price can stay UP!
And second. When you DO go on the market, always have a 'fall back' excuse, should the numbers not reinforce your value. Thus, if Fernando wins as many as four races in '08 while driving for Honda, that, along with a few other podium finishes, would make him easily the most market-able chap in F1. His reputation would be, if anything, even HIGHER than it was while he was beating Michael, no matter who ends up WDC in '08.
And if he DOESN'T get any podiums, no one will blame him; they'll blame the car!!
AND he'll put a lot of money away for his retirement fund AND still be a VERY attractive driver to just about the entire grid. Here's my list of teams that would LOVE to have Fernando Alonso on just about any terms he chose: Renault, Ferrari, Williams, BMW Sauber, Red Bull, Toyota and Honda.
On the other hand. Should he sit out the '08 season, he'll be no more attractive than any other 'proven winner' (and there are ALWAYS 'proven winners' in F1!!) and the people who invest in F1 drivers will be, in '09 'looking to the future' chasing folks like Kubica, Heikki K., and Nico (Lewis H. being 'locked in' and McLaren until Ron D. retires).
And what about Sebastian V.? and Bourdais? Should either of them have a win in '08 their stock will also rise enormously.
F1 drivers always have to keep an eye on the rear view mirror because there is always somebody there, gaining on you. And Alonso is no longer the young gun; he's the driver wearing the bull's eye.
Cheers
and a Merry Christmas to you all!
Jim Watt
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