What exactly happened between Alonso and McLaren?

Question

And the "solution"?

Answer 1

Like they're ever gonna tell us the exact reasoning... there seems to have been a massive gap between Alonso's expectations of his role and McLarens' and one of the most pathetic conflicts I've seen in F1 insued.

Answer 2

Frankly, Alonso, Reigning world champ wanted the set up that Schumacher had at Ferrari-undisputed number one status. Anyone who knows F1, know that that is not the official McLaren way (Unless you are Hakkinen or Senna)

He was staggerd that his rookie team mate came close, too close, to winning the title and the affections and admiration of Ron and the media. He ended up acting in a petulant and immature manner that lost him a lot of respect. OK he was wronged when Lewis disobeyed orders but there were better ways to display oned displeasure than spitting the dummy and issuing threats.

The solution that suited everyone was for Alonso to return to Renault who were willing to retain him on silly money and keep him in trade until a seat became available at Ferrari. Simple, all happy case closed!

I've never been a big fan of Alonso's but his driving this season has been nothing short of superb. He has shown determination and grit worthy of a champion and a million miles from the miserable snarling brat he was at McLaren. It goes to show what having a frustrating season behind you can do for your skillz (sic)

Answer 3

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Alonso spat the dummy and turned into a dobber.

I'm enjoying his driving more this year...he seems to like the challenge of driving a Trabban.....oops...I meant a Renault!

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Answer 4

Only Ron Dennis and Fernando Alonso know what really happened.

Supposedly Alonso was unhappy for not being given number 1 status in the team while Dennis insisted that it has been and always will be McLren's policy to provide both it's drivers with equal equipment and equal treatment.

No one really believed that, but well.

There was talk that Alonso had been let to believe he would indeed receive such status in the team prior to going there.

Or perhaps he never thought it could have been any other way since he was the two time world champion and Lewis a rookie.

It gets worse.

There's a strong theory that suggests that Alonso blackmailed Dennis to give him preferential treatment or he would got to the FIA with evidence of McLaren having used Ferrari's stolen secrets.

Supposedly Dennis's reaction was to call Mosley himself and admit that the team had some confidential Ferrari information, claiming that they had not gone threw it and of course they hadn't used any of it, it was just one person responsible for all that, Stepney.

Better that than have them find out from Alonso.

In any case both parties parted at the end of the year, obviously in aggreement to say nice things about each other and never talk about what happened with "Stepneygate" to the world.

But Alonso hasn't stopped throwing potshots at his former boss, perhaps the result of him being in an uncompetitive car and trying to convince the world and himself he's much better off at Renault.

On the other hand Dennis has been more dignified about it, not taking the bate, again perhaps the result of not bothering with Alonso and his uncompetitive car, he's on top right now.