On this day 5 years ago: The tragedy of Fernando Alonso's radio outburst in Honda's home race at Suzuka Circuit

[ispano6]

RA621H is going to be the biggest upgrade from Honda as well, too. Can't wait!

[63l8qrrfy6]

Looking forward to seeing 'nando lapped by the GP2 engine next year

Karma

[Andres125sx]

Looking forward to seeing 'nando lapped by the GP2 engine next year

Karma

Maybe, but that will not change the past, it was a GP2 engine. Or even worse, as GP2 engines are reliable

[63l8qrrfy6]

Everyone knew it was a bad engine but that does not excuse his radio outburst.

It's the sort of behaviour that burnt bridges with most of the teams he's been with. It's a shame, on track he had the right stuff to be where Hamilton is now, all he had to do was behave..
A very tragic case of wasted talent.

[Andres125sx]

Everyone knew it was a bad engine but that does not excuse his radio outburst.

It's the sort of behaviour that burnt bridges with most of the teams he's been with. It's a shame, on track he had the right stuff to be where Hamilton is now, all he had to do was behave..
A very tragic case of wasted talent.

He´s been in Minardi, McLaren, Renault and Ferrari. He´s repeated with McLaren, and now he´s going to repeat with Renault. Ferrari has always said they were extremelly happy with him. What bridges did he burn exactly? Repeating a lie ad nauseum does not make it true


And I´d say he had/has even more than Hamilton, he tied with him in McLaren despite the blatantly obvious support from the team to their home driver who also was the protege of Ron Dennis. Just in case you don´t know, Dennis paid Hamilton career since he was 12. This is a fact not an opinion. We race Alonso, not Kimi, this was the most scandalous quote from the team boss ever, even if British/official media tried to ignore it

As a fan of Alonso but also a fan of Hamilton since he was in GP2, I will always hate McLaren in some degree as they robbed us one of the most exciting fights in F1 history. If they would have been fair Alonso would have stayed in McLaren and we see some of the most epic battles between two of the best drivers ever. But they were in a hurry to see their home driver winning in their rookie year



This is F1, RBR didn´t need best driver ever, just Vettel (who was one of the best in that era), Brawn never needed best driver, just Button, Ferrari the same with Kimi... heck they almost got it even with Massa!

Alonso almost beat Vettel/RBR/Newey twice despite the half a second faster car on average they had. That´s not seen frequently in F1. Can you imagine Verstappen fighting Hamilton for the title till last race? That´s what Alonso did. Twice.




As any other top driver, he´s very demanding. Honda did lots of promises they never accomplish, so they were criticized. Cope with it, that´s what happens to anyone involved in top racing when they do not perform as expected.

[Steven]

No, it is clearly documented. Andretti team wanted Alonso in this years' race and Honda blocked that move and Alonso could nt get the seat. They gave that seat to some nobody

They allowed him to race in 2017 because he already was a McLaren Honda driver on that year, so they are obliged to give a seat for their driver when Mclaren put up a Indy car with Andretti and Honda engines

Alonso has crashed on multiple Indy 500 runs prior to the race and didn't even make the cut in qualifying last year.

Sato has won it twice since Alonso started attempting the 500. Alonso hitched a Lemans win with Toyota and is now back with Renault. Doubt he will be powered by Honda anytime soon.

Alonso didnt even qualify last year in indy because he was running a Chevrolet engine, Sato won it coz he has had more oppurtunity with Hinda engines
But Toyota connection is also possible

Not very relevant for the GP2 comment, but when it concerns Indy:

• 2017 with Andretti-Honda: engine blew 20 or so laps from the end, while in contention for the win
• 2019 with McLaren-Chevy: Complete team failure. Rushed McLaren attempt, wrong setups, late parts, etc etc
• 2020 with Arrow McLaren-Chevy: Better, but a crash in practice forced ALO to take second car, which they later admitted didn't appear to perform like the first one.

From my point of view, Honda's pride is misplaced. If they'd allow Alonso, they could hope for an Indy win with him, and enjoy the publicity where Alonso would thank the Japanese, and erase history.

Btw... are Indy engines frozen? Why wouldn't Chevy be able to improve? It's been a bit of a status quo for sure in recent years.

[Maritimer]

Engines are open for development, they're just reaching the limit of what they can do by now

[coaster]

With Perez at the wheel, it will be a moment to relish.

[Jolle]

I still think there was a little more to it then the “GP2 engine” radio message at Suzuka. I found it quite awkward that his Toyota contract was publicly announced the day that it was announced that McLaren and Honda were splitting up.
Also, when he made those radio comments (the GP2 one and “we are amateurs, I don’t wanna”) he was paid handsomely by Honda.
Brilliant driver, but in this case with his own agenda and not part of the team.

[_cerber1]

Looking forward to seeing 'nando lapped by the GP2 engine next year

Karma

If you think that Alonso should be punished by karma, then Verstappen too?

[Juzh]

Honda: the only engine that has been so reliable that no Honda-powered car incurred an engine penalty this season (according to Sky). How the turntables...

Verstappen 3 PU dnfs, Hamilton 0 PU dnfs. Just because only ancillary PU hardware failed doesn't mean their reliability was that good. It wasn't. That's not to say other manufacturers didn't have problems, they did, but saying honda has somehow been the best in this regard is simply not true. 3 PU dnfs.. how you gonna fight anyone for the title with such reliability?

[JordanMugen]

He´s been in Minardi, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari. He´s repeated with McLaren, and now he´s going to repeat with Renault. Ferrari has always said they were extremelly happy with him. What bridges did he burn exactly? Repeating a lie ad nauseum does not make it true

McLaren-Mercedes not just McLaren. I believe Mercedes is the main bridge burnt, due to Mercedes being unhappy about Alonso's whistle-blowing and the subsequent 100m GBP fine. Otherwise Alonso+Hamilton would be a fine line-up indeed for Mercedes GP Petronas.

[JordanMugen]

Verstappen 3 PU dnfs, Hamilton 0 PU dnfs.

Some comfort for Perez.

Seems like a bit of luck that Mercedes DNFs did not effect Hamilton, rather than due to Mercedes HPP eliminating all power unit failures.

[NathanOlder]

He´s been in Minardi, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari. He´s repeated with McLaren, and now he´s going to repeat with Renault. Ferrari has always said they were extremelly happy with him. What bridges did he burn exactly? Repeating a lie ad nauseum does not make it true

McLaren-Mercedes not just McLaren. I believe Mercedes is the main bridge burnt, due to Mercedes being unhappy about Alonso's whistle-blowing and the subsequent 100m GBP fine. Otherwise Alonso+Hamilton would be a fine line-up indeed for Mercedes GP Petronas.

Have Mercedes ever tried to sign Alonso since he left Mclaren-Mercedes in 2007 ? Did they consider him when they were looking at Lewis in 2012 ?

[JordanMugen]

Have Mercedes ever tried to sign Alonso since he left Mclaren-Mercedes in 2007 ? Did they consider him when they were looking at Lewis in 2012 ?

Apparently not: not for 2013, not for 2017, not for 2019, not for 2020, and not for 2021, with Alonso finally making a signature for Alpine Formula One Team instead. One presumes Mercedes has avoided Alonso for political reasons, since Alonso's driving talent compared to Bottas is surely without question?

By the same token, some suppose Red Bull Racing have overlooked Alonso due to Alonso's poor relationship with Honda, but I disagree that Honda would have any issue with Alonso. Mercedes on the other hand? They do not seem keen on Alonso at all!