Fernando Alonso announces his retirement.

[Big Tea]

Some people thought Michael was silly going to a Ferrari that hadn't won a title for 20+ years. People thought Lewis was silly leaving a successful McLaren to go to Mercedes - a team who had not looked likely to win a title up to that point. No one would have blamed either for not moving.

Villeneuve went to a newborn team BAR and leaving Williams. They did qualify 6th in some GP's, which wasn't bad for a newborn team.

But they were hardly a new team, they were Tyrrell, one of the best privateer teams of the time to date. They were on the down, somewhere in the position of Mclaren today, but the core of the team was still Tyrrell

[Jolle]

Some people thought Michael was silly going to a Ferrari that hadn't won a title for 20+ years. People thought Lewis was silly leaving a successful McLaren to go to Mercedes - a team who had not looked likely to win a title up to that point. No one would have blamed either for not moving.

Villeneuve went to a newborn team BAR and leaving Williams. They did qualify 6th in some GP's, which wasn't bad for a newborn team.

But they were hardly a new team, they were Tyrrell, one of the best privateer teams of the time to date. They were on the down, somewhere in the position of Mclaren today, but the core of the team was still Tyrrell

They only bought the entry and licence. The BAR team was mostly run by Reynard. Little of Tyrell was remained and most of the stuff was bought by Stoddard.

[ALO_Power]

Great driver.. But he tried to be too clever for his own good. A truly clever man knows when to just shut up and drive. He would be with Ferrari right now with at LEAST two championships under his belt.

Anyway... He missed out on 2008 @ mclaren. Should have shut up and just dealt with Lewis in second year.

2009 to 2013 @ redbull.. He got offered and he refused like silly man.

2017,2018 Ferarri. After failing for three years in hybrid era with redbull he could have moved to Ferrari..

That is eight championships plus the two that he has already if he made the right moves. Undoubtedly he would be seen as the GOAT.

Reading a crystal ball is always useful.

[Andres125sx]

Some people thought Michael was silly going to a Ferrari that hadn't won a title for 20+ years. People thought Lewis was silly leaving a successful McLaren to go to Mercedes - a team who had not looked likely to win a title up to that point. No one would have blamed either for not moving.

Same as Alonso when moving to Ferrari, no one would blame him for that, but moving to RBR in 2008-9 was a different matter. Both Ferrari and Mercedes were (and are) works teams wich build their own PUs, so even if they´re not in their best moment, they still are Ferrari and Mercedes.

RBR on the other hand was a new team wich is not a works team and does not build engines, just a customer. Moving to such a team when their only achivement is a win in the wet and the driver is a multiple world champion would have been much more than surprising

[Ringleheim]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

[Jolle]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

Yes, too late.

[diffuser]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

Yes, too late.

He Sucks for leaving F1. I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity but they are still pissed at him for leaving for McLaren.

[PinkFloydPulse]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

Yes, too late.

He Sucks for leaving F1. I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity but they are still pissed at him for leaving for McLaren.

why would they be pissed? Wasn't it the case they practically canned him?

[Jolle]

Yes, too late.

He Sucks for leaving F1. I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity but they are still pissed at him for leaving for McLaren.

why would they be pissed? Wasn't it the case they practically canned him?

The story goes he was running out of patience and tried to muscle the management into a restructure. The final breakup was kinda mutual. The moment Vettel came available, loosing Alonso wasn't so bad anymore (remember, half way trough 2014 there were even less options then now. The breakup was at least less messy then with Mercedes in 2007. 2014 was born out of frustration.

On the other hand, if they would ask Vettel to go, it would be their third lead driver that left before the end of their contract, four if you count Schumacher being forced out.

[diffuser]

Yes, too late.

He Sucks for leaving F1. I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity but they are still pissed at him for leaving for McLaren.

why would they be pissed? Wasn't it the case they practically canned him?

They tried to get him to stay. Then they started talking to Vettel when it became evident he was leaving. Fernando had atleast 3 years left on his contract when he left. He used performance clause in his contract to get out of it.

[gshevlin]

As fans we must remember, that the number of drivers championships is not a measure of the talent of a driver.

This.
Gilles Villeneuve
Ronnie Peterson
Chris Amon
Stirling Moss

[marmer]

As fans we must remember, that the number of drivers championships is not a measure of the talent of a driver.

This.
Gilles Villeneuve
Ronnie Peterson
Chris Amon
Stirling Moss

also having a championship doesn't automatically mean a great driver.

j villenuve and keke come to mind

[Andres125sx]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

I have always considered Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel as the big three in F1 grid, but lately Seb is too disapointing, making too many mistakes, and specially at crucial moments

He had a chance this season to fight for the title, and failed miserably. The greatest don´t miss those opportunities, or at least keep battling while possible. He surely is fast, but fails under pressure

[Ringleheim]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

Yes, too late.

He Sucks for leaving F1. I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity but they are still pissed at him for leaving for McLaren.

The key principals at Ferrari during Alonso's stay have nothing to do with the company now.

Totally different group there now. The "bad blood" thing is overplayed and not actually a problem IMO.

[Ringleheim]

As a big Ferrari fan, I have to ask this question.

Is it too late to fire Vettel's ass and sign Alonso for the #1 seat next year?

Alonso's services are not spoken for in 2019 and Ferrari can buy out Vettel's contract any time they want; they can probably convince Phillip Morris to foot the bill too.

Let's get it done! Old Man Alonso will/would out-perform Vettel in next year's Ferrari. No doubt. He's just as fast and a much more complete driver.

I have always considered Alonso, Hamilton and Vettel as the big three in F1 grid, but lately Seb is too disapointing, making too many mistakes, and specially at crucial moments

He had a chance this season to fight for the title, and failed miserably. The greatest don´t miss those opportunities, or at least keep battling while possible. He surely is fast, but fails under pressure

Yes he does. He is also nothing like the qualifier that Lewis Hamilton is. We've seen it play out so many times there is no room for doubt.

When it is time to really squeeze out a fast lap, Hamilton knows how to get it done.

In the same situation, Vettel usually screws up a corner and falters.

Let's not forget that Danny Ric had the best of Vettel in the same equipment too.

Vettel's glory came when he had a massive technical advantage with his car and the only man in the field he had to beat was Mark Webber, who was always a "B" level driver.