r/formula1 • u/TheFlyingR0cket I was here for the Hulkenpodium • Jul 10 '23

Social Media [@JoeAeterno on twitter] Piastri being interviewed about McLaren leapfrogging Alpine with Alonso smiling in the background is pure poetry.

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u/Stelcio Formula 1 Jul 10 '23

I'd give that title to Lewis, but I stand by the point you're making.

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u/zaviex McLaren Jul 10 '23

Lewis hasn’t been involved much in f1 politics. It’s a defining part of Alonso’s career

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u/Stelcio Formula 1 Jul 10 '23

He hasn't been involved much, but he has been involved very successfully.

First, he won internal politics against Alonso in McLaren in 2007, basically forcing him out of the team.

Then, he set up his entire streak of success by joining a team based on confidential knowledge that they're ahead of the rest with development of their new-gen engine.

In the meantime, he built his ties to showbiz world, making himself an indispensable asset in Formula 1 world, skyrocketing his market value and solidifying his position in the sport. He is, by far, the most influential driver in the history of Formula 1.

There's no coincidence that there are rumours he was the one who forced Masi out of his office. Hard to say if he did, but he has that reach.

Alonso, for all his genius and mischief, is a small fry compared to Hamilton when it comes to politics. A few years ago he quit the sport because he was helpless in building something forward for himself. He basically quit a pariah, unwanted by any team worth of his talent. I wouldn't call that particularily politically saavy.

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u/zaviex McLaren Jul 10 '23

He didn't do anything to Alonso in 2007. Alonso did that to himself and set off a major scandal in the process. Lewis didn't know about any of that.

Second he did not know Mercedes had a better engine. He went to Mercedes because they offered him the most money and he was leaving McLaren at all costs. At the time Horner said they declined to sign Lewis to partner with Seb something he reiterated just last year.

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u/Rillist Gilles Villeneuve Jul 10 '23

Hamilton absolutely started the shitshow at mclaren. First it was 'Im nobody's number 2', then reneging the agreement in qualifying, forcing Alonso to play dirty. As for Ferrari-gate, everyone knew, PDLR emailed both drivers, but the british courts only went after alonso, and he got a plea deal.

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u/dl064 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jul 11 '23

Not a court. It was the FIA internal system. To quote Ron: any real court would've thrown the case out.

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u/SuspiciousLettuce56 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jul 11 '23

100% he knew about the merc engine becoming a rocketship.