Fernando Alonso to retire from Formula 1 at end of 2018 season

**mwk360** · 16th August 2018, 08:41

Originally Posted by DIEK

PD:

https://diosfenix.files.wordpress.co...phlhig4lvy.gif

LOOOOOL that looks straight out of a movie! aw well maybe this will be just enough to give Vandoorne one more year

**Stormsearcher** · 16th August 2018, 10:49

This is terrible news! but not unexpected.
Perhaps the best F1 driver of this generation, and its sad he has only 2 titles to his credit.
His 2012 season with us, IMO is one of the best seasons for an individual driver ever.

Very sorry to see him leave F1.

**mwk360** · 16th August 2018, 16:19

Has ferrari said anything about Alonso leaving?

I Can't find the message. Maybe they straight up don't care or both still hold a grudge.

You can bet kimi will get a great big goodbye from ferrari in 2 years time (if rumors are true)

**Rishu** · 16th August 2018, 16:55

Did Ferrari gave Schumacher any special message when he retired in 2012? Is it really that hard to understand teams value their current drivers?

**KimiBot** · 16th August 2018, 16:58

Renault had a message to Nando

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/124...1-the-reaction

**Christopher** · 16th August 2018, 22:38

Its a shame to see a top driver having to retire because of uncompetitive cars he could still easily win a championship on ability he only has himself to blame though it was his decisions that cost him a 3rd world championship he could easily be fighting Lewis for the championship this year I wonder what would have happened if he gave Ferrari one more year to make a competitive car

**FerrariF60** · 17th August 2018, 00:25

Originally Posted by Christopher

Its a shame to see a top driver having to retire because of uncompetitive cars he could still easily win a championship on ability he only has himself to blame though it was his decisions that cost him a 3rd world championship he could easily be fighting Lewis for the championship this year I wonder what would have happened if he gave Ferrari one more year to make a competitive car

we would never know what would have, could have happened, now do we??? Fred should have stuck with Ferrari through and through instead of chickening out and bailing his out of the most FAMOUS team for his other dream team...McMowers...LOLOLOL

**mwk360** · 17th August 2018, 05:53

Originally Posted by KimiBot

Renault had a message to Nando

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/124...1-the-reaction

nice, a perfect summary

**mwk360** · 17th August 2018, 10:11

lol

https://twitter.com/becclancy/status...87686768902144

**Brembo** · 17th August 2018, 11:31

Originally Posted by FerrariF60

we would never know what would have, could have happened, now do we??? Fred should have stuck with Ferrari through and through instead of chickening out and bailing his out of the most FAMOUS team for his other dream team...McMowers...LOLOLOL

Schumy left the most famous team and went on to race for Merc. He was treated pretty good @ Ferrari to say the least. He just wanted to finish with another team. Or was he also chickening out at the thought of not being the top driver @ Ferrari?

**jgonzalesm6** · 17th August 2018, 13:44

Originally Posted by Brembo

Schumy left the most famous team and went on to race for Merc. He was treated pretty good @ Ferrari to say the least. He just wanted to finish with another team. Or was he also chickening out at the thought of not being the top driver @ Ferrari?

The story is, there was a "falling out" between Schumi and Ferrari.....whom had a fractured neck while with Ferrari. His doctor said that he should not race......EVER....due to his neck. Low and behold he signs with Mercedes and races for them.

The rift between Schumi and Ferrari and his fractured neck and what the doctor said is open for debate. IMO, Michael thought (prior to the fractured neck) he was bigger than Ferrari and LdM said to ****-off!! No one is bigger than Ferrari.....except Enzo himself. Also, him coming back to Mercedes and then racing for them was his enate urge to get back into racing (regardless of what his doctors said). Personally, those last years with Mercedes were not Schumacher-esque as in his glory years.

**FranksterGM** · 17th August 2018, 14:44

Not to take anything away from Alonso.
But I am suprised that noone has said that they kept changing the rules to hobble Ferrari... points system, tires.

**Greig** · 17th August 2018, 18:31

Originally Posted by jgonzalesm6

The story is, there was a "falling out" between Schumi and Ferrari.....whom had a fractured neck while with Ferrari. His doctor said that he should not race......EVER....due to his neck. Low and behold he signs with Mercedes and races for them.

The rift between Schumi and Ferrari and his fractured neck and what the doctor said is open for debate. IMO, Michael thought (prior to the fractured neck) he was bigger than Ferrari and LdM said to ****-off!! No one is bigger than Ferrari.....except Enzo himself. Also, him coming back to Mercedes and then racing for them was his enate urge to get back into racing (regardless of what his doctors said). Personally, those last years with Mercedes were not Schumacher-esque as in his glory years.

What? MS never had a fractured neck when he left Ferrari? He was meant to replace Massa when Massa had his injury but pulled out of it due to crashing his motorbike.

**jgonzalesm6** · 17th August 2018, 19:40

Originally Posted by Greig

What? MS never had a fractured neck when he left Ferrari? He was meant to replace Massa when Massa had his injury but pulled out of it due to crashing his motorbike.

Michael fractured his neck in his motorcycle accident while still "employed" with Ferrari as a racing advisor. He pulled out saying, after Massa's incident, that he had neck pains. Then he tested the Mercedes and realized how better the car was as opposed to Ferrari (he had been testing for Ferrari) and only 4 months later signed to Mercedes after turning down the Ferrari seat in mid 2009 (after Massa's incident).

He chose Mercedes over Ferrari.

**Greig** · 17th August 2018, 20:06

Originally Posted by jgonzalesm6

Michael fractured his neck in his motorcycle accident while still "employed" with Ferrari as a racing advisor. He pulled out saying, after Massa's incident, that he had neck pains. Then he tested the Mercedes and realized how better the car was as opposed to Ferrari (he had been testing for Ferrari) and only 4 months later signed to Mercedes after turning down the Ferrari seat in mid 2009 (after Massa's incident).

He chose Mercedes over Ferrari.

Michael had no intention to race F1 again, he tested an older car to replace Massa but his neck and back was injured in a accident and he could not do it, he said this test ignited his desire to race again, nothing more in it than that and there was no such thing as Michael thinking he was bigger than Ferrari so no idea why you are putting that there? Ferrari certainly did not offer him a race seat full time so not sure how you can say he chose Merc over Ferrari either.

He tested a 2 year old F2007 and I don't think he drove a Merc till pre-season testing in 2010 when he already signed a deal, and you think the Merc was better than Ferrari when MS was there? are you for real LOL they were not even close to us.

**jgonzalesm6** · 17th August 2018, 20:18

Originally Posted by Greig

and you think the Merc was better than Ferrari when MS was there? are you for real LOL they were not even close to us.

I don't think that Mercedes was better than Ferrari, but it was a good enough reason for Michael to think so and sign with them.

**Greig** · 17th August 2018, 20:20

Originally Posted by jgonzalesm6

I don't think that Mercedes was better than Ferrari, but it was a good enough reason for Michael to think so and sign with them.

You claim he tested Merc and realised they were better and he chose Merc over Ferrari.. simply not true as a) he tested a 2 year old F2007 for us and b) he never tested a Merc till after he signed with them, and c) there was no offer to drive for Ferrari after he could not replace Massa while injured.

**jgonzalesm6** · 17th August 2018, 20:35

Originally Posted by Greig

c) there was no offer to drive for Ferrari after he could not replace Massa while injured.

Ferrari were going to draft in Michael after Massa's incident, but Michael claimed neck pains (from the motorcyle accident at the beginning of the year)....then 4 months later he signed with Mercedes. Guess what??? After driving for Mercedes in an F1 car.....no more neck pains!!! A recovery.... It's a miracle!

This was Michaels personal doctor/physician. Hmmmm.

**Greig** · 17th August 2018, 20:43

Originally Posted by jgonzalesm6

Ferrari were going to draft in Michael after Massa's incident, but Michael claimed neck pains (from the motorcyle accident at the beginning of the year)....then 4 months later he signed with Mercedes. Guess what??? After driving for Mercedes in an F1 car.....no more neck pains!!! A recovery.... It's a miracle!

This was Michaels personal doctor/physician. Hmmmm.

Michael started training to replace Massa, and tested but his neck was still troubling him from the accident so had to pull out he was committed to replacing Massa only injury stopped him, and as he said those tests made him think about racing again. There was NEVER any suggestion he was told to never race again or he would not have offered to replace Massa and begin training to be fit for the drive, there was no miracle just the human body healing and he was fit enough to sustain the g forces of F1.

Your trying to make out he turned his back on us to drive for Merc when that is simply not true.

**jgonzalesm6** · 17th August 2018, 20:49

Originally Posted by Greig

Michael started training to replace Massa, and tested but his neck was still troubling him from the accident so had to pull out he was committed to replacing Massa only injury stopped him, and as he said those tests made him think about racing again. There was NEVER any suggestion he was told to never race again or he would not have offered to replace Massa and begin training to be fit for the drive, there was no miracle just the human body healing and he was fit enough to sustain the g forces of F1.

Your trying to make out he turned his back on us to drive for Merc when that is simply not true.

So if we had the better car and Merc did'nt.....why would Michael Schumacher sign with Mercedes???? Surely, the atmosphere was "happy-go-lucky" with Ferrari and Michael and one could only surmise that he would be with Ferrari in 2010. He was a shoe in right??

**Greig** · 17th August 2018, 20:56

Originally Posted by jgonzalesm6

So if we had the better car and Merc did'nt.....why would Michael Schumacher sign with Mercedes???? Surely, the atmosphere was "happy-go-lucky" with Ferrari and Michael and one could only surmise that he would be with Ferrari in 2010. He was a shoe in right??

Ferrari did not offer him a 2010 drive? He was to replace Felipe while he was injured nothing more. We had announced Alonso in Sept 2009 to replace Kimi and Massa was recovering to drive 2010.

Michael signed for Merc because they were a big part of his early career and he wanted to get back into racing and they offered him a drive along with Brawn being there....he had no idea how good their car was compared to ours considering it was Mercs 1st season back.

**jgonzalesm6** · 17th August 2018, 21:16

Originally Posted by Greig

Ferrari did not offer him a 2010 drive? He was to replace Felipe while he was injured nothing more. We had announced Alonso in Sept 2009 to replace Kimi and Massa was recovering to drive 2010.

Michael signed for Merc because they were a big part of his early career and he wanted to get back into racing and they offered him a drive along with Brawn being there....he had no idea how good their car was compared to ours considering it was Mercs 1st season back.

That would make sense. I forgot about Mercedes in his early career and Brawn moving to Mercedes.

**Stormy** · 18th August 2018, 02:02

Yeah, agree with Greig on this one. Mercedes invested heavily in Schumacher as a youngster, so maybe he just wanted to repay the favor. Brawn was also in the team that contributed vastly to his decision to come back and race for Mercedes.

**Brembo** · 18th August 2018, 09:00

Originally Posted by Stormy

Yeah, agree with Greig on this one. Mercedes invested heavily in Schumacher as a youngster, so maybe he just wanted to repay the favor. Brawn was also in the team that contributed vastly to his decision to come back and race for Mercedes.

I can't believe how Ross forgot to bring along with him to Merc and install Ruben's Ferrari radio in Nico's car so Schumy could really be at home!

**impactX** · 18th August 2018, 12:24

Originally Posted by FerrariF60

we would never know what would have, could have happened, now do we??? Fred should have stuck with Ferrari through and through instead of chickening out and bailing his out of the most FAMOUS team for his other dream team...McMowers...LOLOLOL

After he left, did any Ferrari driver get WDC? oh yeah that's right...

**512 TR** · 18th August 2018, 12:28

Originally Posted by FranksterGM

Not to take anything away from Alonso.
But I am suprised that noone has said that they kept changing the rules to hobble Ferrari... points system, tires.

Exactly. Especially in 2005 when the tyres rules basicly took Ferrari out of the title fights. In 2005 Alonso only raced three other drivers, Fisi, Kimi and JPM. Despite that Michael managed to finish infront of both JPM and Fisi on points, although JPM missed two races. But still it was almost a miracle. Alonso has actually only been outstanding in one season, 2006. Even without Michaels engine problem at Suzuka Alonso would still probably win the WDC. Ferrari might have won the WCC though. I would also put Alonsos year at Minardi in 2001 as his 2nd best season ever and much better than anything in the last 10 years. Even though Tarso Marques scored higher finishing positions (twice 9th to Alonsos 10th). That was a damn bad car.

**aroutis** · 18th August 2018, 12:45

Originally Posted by Brembo

Schumy left the most famous team and went on to race for Merc. He was treated pretty good @ Ferrari to say the least. He just wanted to finish with another team. Or was he also chickening out at the thought of not being the top driver @ Ferrari?

That was a very nice joke.

**Rob** · 18th August 2018, 12:56

saw him briefly yesterday in WEC paddock, thought he would be less "f1" and open like all of the other WEC drivers. But, what i saw of him no he wasnt. He walked from Toyota pits, long the huddled up against all the other team trucks, coat pulled right up to his eyes, hat pulled right down. He only signed Kimoa hats, well 2, while all other Toyota drivers were all open, stopping briefly for pictures and sign stuff, Fernando had "his people" around him too to try to shield him bit more. So sad really.

**impactX** · 18th August 2018, 15:31

Originally Posted by 512 TR

Exactly. Especially in 2005 when the tyres rules basicly took Ferrari out of the title fights. In 2005 Alonso only raced three other drivers, Fisi, Kimi and JPM. Despite that Michael managed to finish infront of both JPM and Fisi on points, although JPM missed two races. But still it was almost a miracle. Alonso has actually only been outstanding in one season, 2006. Even without Michaels engine problem at Suzuka Alonso would still probably win the WDC. Ferrari might have won the WCC though. I would also put Alonsos year at Minardi in 2001 as his 2nd best season ever and much better than anything in the last 10 years. Even though Tarso Marques scored higher finishing positions (twice 9th to Alonsos 10th). That was a damn bad car.

Bridgestone was to be blamed when they ignored every team other than Ferrari and those team jumped ship to Michelin.