Alonso and Hamilton must unite to beat Ferrari
John Surtees Weblog - 13 August 2007
Lewis Hamilton would have come away from Hungary with an even greater determination to get the job done in this season’s Formula One World Championship.
That superb win - coupled with an equally impressive practice and qualifying session - was only spoilt by the team momentarily losing control, both in the pits and on the PR front (with it appearing they had hung Lewis out to dry).
The resulting misreporting over the language used was disappointing, as here we have a young man who has presented himself off the track in an exemplary manner, communicating well and everything about him showing the pleasure that he gets from what he is doing: a role model for all. To try and bring it down to a level that is commonplace among the so called stars of the football world is disheartening at the very least.
I have always rated Alonso very highly. But what would appear obvious is that he values a position that is akin to positive number one status and that his composure is much disturbed by the threat of another team member out-performing him. No matter what happened before, I was deeply concerned to see the very obvious delaying tactics which took place in the pits. This concern was not only for Lewis but also for the team and our sport…and also for Alonso as he won his Championships on merit. I believe these actions show weakness rather than strength.
Delicately poised
It was obvious what the thoughts of Ron Dennis were by the way he clasped the neck of Alonso’s personal trainer and walked away with him. How Alonso will continue to fit in with the stated equal car and support policy that McLaren-Mercedes advocate we have yet to see. With the threat Ferrari poses at some of the circuits to come, a united McClaren-Mercedes team effort will be to the benefit of all.
As far as Alonso is concerned, I think he has treated Hamilton totally wrongly. With his show of petulance, he has shown weakness, whereas - with his superb record and ability - he would have countered the Hamilton threat far more effectively by taking the high ground, complimenting Lewis on what he had done, and then channeling all his energies into a demonstration what he can do on the track.
Ron Dennis must be experiencing problems he never dreamed of when he signed the World Champion and rookie Hamilton. He didn’t give Hamilton his opportunity without having some pretty good reports back from the test track which would also have partly forewarned Alonso of what was to come.
Alonso had been a coup for Ron Dennis, not only because of his abilities as a driver but also as a result of the enormous support he has created for Formula One in Spain. This has had the additional benefit of opening up lucrative sponsorship. No sponsor should be unhappy with the interest that has been generated by McLaren-Mercedes this year. Maybe it hasn’t unfolded exactly in accordance with the script. But there's no doubting the amount of coverage that Formula One and the team have received on the back of Hamilton's performance has been sensational.
So let's hope that some of the negative events of Hungary are one offs.
Despite saying that, we have a Championship campaign, delicately poised, with four ultra competitive drivers and two equally competitive teams. Three of those drivers will still be uncertain of quite who Lewis Hamilton is and what he is capable of, which makes for an interesting countdown as the season rolls on and they find out.
My deep felt hope is that the Championship will be decided by the performance of the cars, teams and drivers on the track and not by off-track Court hearings inspired by the greed of one or two fringe, would-be opportunists.
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