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As I walked into the track this morning with one of the well respected Italian journalists he told me that they now have a new word for what its happening to Vettel at Ferrari; they call it “Alonsofication”.
‘Alonsofication’ means going to Ferrari expecting a winning car and then getting that sinking feeling after a while as the objective seems to get further away, rather than closer. It’s what happened to Fernando Alonso and it appears to be happening to Vettel although he defended the situation at Ferrari, as one would expect him to do.
“I think it’s clear that all of us inside the team, we are not very patient, we have very high expectations which I think we’ve expressed many times at the beginning of the year,” he said. “We want to fight for the championship but, as I said, as a net result so far we haven’t been competitive and quick enough – yet. We are trying our utmost to improve it. There’s a lot of things happening on the track, even more things happening back in Maranello at the factory to work on that and change that. People are fired up – even if it still takes a little bit.”
When asked about Verstappen's behaviour at Spa, Alonso told reporters: "In the middle of the straight you are allowed to do one move as long as the other one is not alongside you, so everything fits.
"Regarding Max, on the long straight, I don't think Kimi was side by side.
"It was very late and maybe he didn't judge where Kimi was, but Kimi was still behind. The rule, as written, is still good."
When asked about Verstappen's behaviour at Spa, Alonso told reporters: "In the middle of the straight you are allowed to do one move as long as the other one is not alongside you, so everything fits.
"Regarding Max, on the long straight, I don't think Kimi was side by side.
"It was very late and maybe he didn't judge where Kimi was, but Kimi was still behind. The rule, as written, is still good."
Villeneuve gave an interview to motorsport.com and says that the absence of punishment over Verstappen’s dangerous driving suggests the young guy is getting “protection” from the Formula 1 governing body FIA.
Verstappen was asked about the criticism ahead of the Italian GP, and hit back in straightforward style.
“He should watch a little with his statements that someone dies, because he himself has killed someone,” said Verstappen, referring to the race marshal who died at the Australian Grand Prix in 2001 when hit by debris from Villeneuve’s car.
“He has to look at himself. I think what he says is not respectful to the family of the deceased marshal.”
Verstappen getting protection from FIA
“It looks like he’s got protection. They want him to be a star, “said Villeneuve, adding that his problem with what happened at the first corner in Belgium was as much about Verstappen’s reaction than it was about the incident itself.
“Mostly if you had a bad start, just accept it. But that is not what’s bad. It’s after that, he complains about other drivers: ‘They destroyed my race’,” he added.
“Relax, relax. You know you took a big risk [by going up the inside] and it did not pay off. You destroyed their race and you destroyed your own race. That’s fine. That’s life.”
Just young drivers making young driver mistakes. **** happens. But I don't like the lack of ownership on this one.
i agree with all of what you said, but that last line stuck with me the most, simply because it's happened on so many instances where he's blocked very illegally and dangerously. but I'm willing to bet he'll have something to say when a diver puts him in the wall or cuts his tire.
Re: The Official Formula 1 2016 Season Thread
