Briatore, Alonso and Schumacher

[xpensive]

I was thinking, intersting how history repeats itself for the good Flavio, he seems to be in the same position with Alonso now as he was with Schumacher in 1985.

Either you pay the guy or you are nowhere, correct?

[Ciro Pabón]

I don't get it. Alonso was confirmed for 2009 one month ago. I heard he has a contract with payments dependent on performance clauses. Is that what you're talking about?

About history, I think history doesn't repeat, but it frequently rhymes.

[xpensive]

In 1995, Briatore could have paid Schumacher to stay, by the end of 2009,
I believe that he will be given the same option with Alonso.

[Ciro Pabón]

Well, what I heard is that Alonso signed until 2010. Spanish newspapers (not the best source) claim that he can break the contract (!) if the performance is not what he expects.

Anyway, in my not so humble opinion, forces of nature, like Alonso, Schumacher or Hurricane Katrina, cannot be dealt with through contracts.

[xpensive]

Something like that yes, while Briatore knows that without Alonso, he's nowhere.
Pretty much like his situation with Schu at the end of 1995, which was my point.

[jamsbong]

well kinda true but then, in the case of Schumacher, Ferrari was a weak team with big $$$.
Now, Ferrari is a benchmark team with $$$. Alonso is definitely better off at that team.
But you've gotta give credits to Briatore for discovering great drivers like Schumacher and Alonso.

Well, Ron Dennis has a good eye too for discovering Hakkinen, Raikkonen, and Hamilton.

Ferrari on the other hand just buy an expensive driver...

[DaveKillens]

[quote="jamsbong"]But you've gotta give credits to Briatore for discovering great drivers like Schumacher and Alonso.[quote]
With all due respect, MIchael Schumacher was "discovered" by Jordan designer Gary Anderson and team manager Trevor Foster during a test drive at Silverstone, Aug 17-18, 1991. The following week at the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, Michael qualified 7th, and the rest is history.

[xpensive]

And the young German was more or less stolen by Briatore during the following night.
Legend has it that he was told "Go to bed, when you wake up tomorrow you will be a Benetton driver", which he indeed was.
Thereby, he more or less ended Nelson Piquet's long career in F1, but that's another story.

[Metar]

Well, Ron Dennis has a good eye too for discovering Hakkinen, Raikkonen, and Hamilton.

Who was discovered by Peter Sauber - and in this case, really discovered, having raced just 23 races in high-level competition before getting the drive. And scoring points on the first outing. Dennis just saw what everyone else saw.

[shotzski]

Nick Heidfeld on the other hand was Ron Denis' discovery. Will he become a champion? We don't know

[jamsbong]

Oh well, I was wrong.

Heidfeld is too easy going, I think. Probably not gonna be a champ.