"He's an unhappy driver in his current team", writes one
of Spain's premier sports magazines. I've gotten used to juggling different perspectives to F1 according to the origin of the news, but reporting that Alonso wants to leave McLaren - period - I haven't come across anywhere else, nor has the suggestion been so clear to date in Spanish media either.
There's the reference to how Alonso gave the cold sholder treatment to Dennis on Nürnburgring's podium, a "revenge" for the perceived contemptuous attitude shown by the team at Monaco. The theme of the "injust" equality between the drivers is continued, how the enthusiasm of the Brit team favours Hamilton under the circumstances, portrayed as a mostly inferior driver to the Asturian.
The specter of a Ferrari resurgence is raised, and the supposed indifference to the threat McLaren shows by the team's current general no-favoritism attitude towards its drivers. Only by the genius of the driver in car no. 1 was Ferrari kept at bay at Silverstone, but the reporter certainly paints a picture in which Alonso faces this great threat forlorn, almost alone.
Ferrari, BMW, Renault and Toyota, one and all, are supposed to be interested to free the champion from his current contract, tempting Alonso with all they've got to offer. At the end of the season, all will be clear. Fernando's change of heart isn't supposed to have come easily, but neither did he expect that a light fixture would damage his car in Bahrain or that he would be denied to fight to the finish at Indianapolis.
The suggestion about Hamilton benefiting from Alonso's data disproportionately is also restated, and supposedly while in North America, Fernando learned his lesson not to share any more. A situation that doesn't benefit anyone, but a sad necessity. In Hungaroring, the qualification is decisive and Alonso's statistics are raised to support the point that there he will reclaim his position in the championship standings.
And so, celebrating his 26th birthday at Oviedo before going off to fight another day in Hungary, Alonso is reported to have wished for two things: a third consecutive WDC and to be able to leave the team he's so unhappy at after this season already.
There are no direct quotes from Alonso in the article though. So, what's it all about ... intent clearly stated, or a political effort to wrestle a favoured position within his team once and for all? Or something else?
The original article here.
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. He might get promoted to "Toyota F1 Team Consultant".
