Did a Startline Chop Lose Alonso the Title?

TrapezeArtist · 16 Nov 2010, 11:40 (Ref:2791542)

We've seen a few unpleasant chops at the start of GPs this year.

Before the start in Abu Dhabi, we heard Alonso's team radio advise him to drive straight off the line for better traction. For several tenths of a second he appeared to heed the advice, until he saw Button gaining ground. Then the "chopper's instinct" kicked in and he moved over (not the most aggressive chop I've ever seen but clearly aimed to put JB off his stroke). Button was having none of it and Alonso jerked back to the right. It's at that instant that we see Button gain a significant amount of ground on Alonso.

Perhaps if Alonso had started straight, he would have got cleaner tarmac and better traction and might just have out-fumbled Button in the first corner. In which case the whole race would have turned out to be very different.

Maybe I'm right, maybe I'm wrong, in this case. But I've been looking forward for a long time to seeing a driver get his come-uppance for a move like that. I'll get a little crumb of comfort from the thought that a fairly innocuous chop by the standards of some came with one of the biggest penalties possible. I wonder if Fernando will be thinking of that during the winter too.

Skam85 · 16 Nov 2010, 11:56 (Ref:2791545)

No, Ferrari's strategy cost him a potential 4th place. Scoring less points than Vettel over the course of 19 races cost him the title.

/thread

**Born Racer** · 16 Nov 2010, 12:40 (Ref:2791557)

I'd need to look back at the race to see how much his dropping in behind Button was costing him in time, although I don't think it was a huge amount. However, it may have been just one aspect that prompted Ferrari into their stupid and bizarre defensive 'covering Webber' strategy.

In reality, the championship is one over a season, but errors at the end magnify public perception of how bad they were. It's not the first silly thing Fernando and Ferrari have done though. Remember how Fernando refused to give Robert his place back in Silverstone which got them that penalty?

I don't like the chops either, and like you, I'd been looking forward to seeing a driver keep his foot in, which Button did.

Ferrari got their comeuppance and it's hard not to find their Abu Dhabi sham of a race funny (unless you're an Alonso or Ferrari supporter I suppose). I just wish I could have seen what La Sexta's Antonio Lobato made of it. That would make my day.

ptclaus98 · 16 Nov 2010, 14:35 (Ref:2791633)

Did some bad lamb cost Alonso the title? Maybe it was that citrus fizzy drink. Lewis didn't seem to like it either.

Knowlesy · 16 Nov 2010, 18:41 (Ref:2791750)

Did illegal immigrants cause Alonso to lose world title?

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Joe Taylor · 16 Nov 2010, 19:05 (Ref:2791764)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Did illegal immigrants cause Alonso to lose world title?

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Was Alonso's defeat part of a coverup of the murder of Princess Diana?

Source: express.co.uk

TrapezeArtist · 16 Nov 2010, 19:07 (Ref:2791766)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I'd need to look back at the race to see how much his dropping in behind Button was costing him in time, although I don't think it was a huge amount. However, it may have been just one aspect that prompted Ferrari into their stupid and bizarre defensive 'covering Webber' strategy.

In reality, the championship is one over a season, but errors at the end magnify public perception of how bad they were. It's not the first silly thing Fernando and Ferrari have done though. Remember how Fernando refused to give Robert his place back in Silverstone which got them that penalty?

I don't like the chops either, and like you, I'd been looking forward to seeing a driver keep his foot in, which Button did.

Ferrari got their comeuppance and it's hard not to find their Abu Dhabi sham of a race funny (unless you're an Alonso or Ferrari supporter I suppose). I just wish I could have seen what La Sexta's Antonio Lobato made of it. That would make my day.

Yes, of course a million little things over the course of the season all contributed to the result. But by Sunday evening most of those were in the past and the drivers just had to do the business on the day (night). You have clarified the point that I didn't explain: that if Alonso had been in front of Button, it is very probable that Ferrari wouldn't have tried to cover Webber on the pitstop. Then he would have had a very good chance of finishing third and winning the world championship (albeit with the inclusion of his Hockenheim bonus points).

I Rosputnik · 16 Nov 2010, 19:12 (Ref:2791773)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Taylor

Was Alonso's defeat part of a coverup of the murder of Princess Diana?

Source: express.co.uk

Did Alonso get abducted by aliens and replaced by a clone?

Source: dailystar.co.uk

Knowlesy · 16 Nov 2010, 19:18 (Ref:2791775)

Freddie Alonso ate my Massa.

Source: thesun.co.uk

**Born Racer** · 17 Nov 2010, 10:33 (Ref:2792025)

Conclusion: He and Ferrari were stupid and made the biggest championship cock-up ever, and British newspapers can be outrageous.

stripedcat · 17 Nov 2010, 12:07 (Ref:2792067)

I thought Alonso had JFK killed?

Seriously though Ferrari mucked up. Since Brawn left they made several bad pitstop calls!

White flag man · 17 Nov 2010, 21:05 (Ref:2792279)

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Did Alonso get abducted by aliens and replaced by a clone?

Source: dailystar.co.uk

Real Fernando Alonso found on the moon!

Source: dailysport.co.uk

ensign14 · 17 Nov 2010, 21:21 (Ref:2792294)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Did illegal immigrants cause Alonso to lose world title?

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Alonso causes cancer.

Alonso cures cancer.

cimatt · 18 Nov 2010, 11:41 (Ref:2792559)

Alonso stole podium champagne

source: Whine Today

Super Hans · 18 Nov 2010, 11:52 (Ref:2792561)

Defeat of mixed-race and hispanic men by white man raises pressing issues regarding racial equlity in F1.

Source: Guardian

Super Hans · 18 Nov 2010, 11:55 (Ref:2792563)

Fritz So Easy! Vettel Sends Alonso to the Costa Del Shame.

Source: The Sun

**Bononi** · 18 Nov 2010, 12:09 (Ref:2792573)

Who is Alonso anyway ?

Source:La Marca.

"Some sources confirm that his real name is Teflonso."

ensign14 · 18 Nov 2010, 20:04 (Ref:2792803)

Tax dodgers destroy environment in name of nationalism

Source: Morning Star

I Rosputnik · 19 Nov 2010, 16:23 (Ref:2793151)

Alonso got close to beating Chuck Norris in an arm wrestling contest.

source: nytimes.com

Chatters · 20 Nov 2010, 00:31 (Ref:2793306)

But never mind that, what about Jenson Button?

Super Hans · 20 Nov 2010, 12:08 (Ref:2793413)

Alonso Eyes Startline Chop

Source: Autosport

Knowlesy · 20 Nov 2010, 13:22 (Ref:2793429)

Alonso urges caution after startling chop.

Source: autosport.com

**Born Racer** · 20 Nov 2010, 14:20 (Ref:2793443)

I'm watching the Grand Prix again and I think that chop may have been costly. Once he'd realised Button was having none of it, he gave up on that and was still pretty close to Button on the outside of Turn 1. If he'd stuck to that all along instead of this chopping nonsense, he could have been third.

ensign14 · 20 Nov 2010, 19:36 (Ref:2793550)

ALONSO: A Tragedy Unfolds Before Our Very Eyes

Source: Independent

gert · 20 Nov 2010, 21:38 (Ref:2793595)

Third or Fourth, In front of Button, or behind him - I doubt it would have made any difference at all. If the plan was to follow Webber's tactics becuase they feared him most, they probably would have followed pitted anyhow.

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