Ron: "DC's performance unacceptable"

[TeddyG]

"Dennis was far from happy with Coulthard’s 14th place, after the driver made no fewer than three mistakes on the lap.


The McLaren boss was delighted with Raikkonen’s run to second on the grid, adding that the team had not compromised their race performance for qualifying pace.
He said: "David made three mistakes, not one – and that is a bit unacceptable. But we are a team and we have to support each other. He will be tough enough on himself without us needing to say anything."

- www.itvf1.com


With Kimi getting the upper hand pretty consistently now on DC he must really be sweating, espically that Ron seems to be getting more and more critical.
Could it be why he was, in my view, over driving so badly in final quals? Could DC be out at the end of the season? When is his contract up?
Nevertheless DC had better be "tough on himself" and start turning things around or I am sure his seat could be in question.

[neilap]

'He will be tough enough on himself without us needing to say anything."

Then why did he say anything? Like I said in another post about DC he needs to concentrate on his team and his races. His run did not look half as bad as some of the other drivers. KR just did really well.

[DNQ]

This really is a thread about nothing much

[BootsOntheSide]

No, I think it is about something. Ron has been more critical of DC than he was of Kimi in Spain, who made two highly costly mistakes, rather than 3 individually minor ones. That suggests that Kimi is the team's focus.

[badoer fan]

Of course 'Mika' is the team's focus

[touringlegend]

When Ron was interviewed on ITV this afternoon I just knew this subject would creep up on here. I don't think Ron actually meant much by that statement, it's just that it's fashionable to say that Ron is too critical of DC.

[Hugh Jarce]

Originally posted by TeddyG
He will be tough enough on himself without us needing to say anything." - www.itvf1.com

Am I just being thick?

If you don't need to say something about it, Ron - then why say it?

[gttouring]

well controoversy is good for a story and exposure, and having DC rally after every punch really makes him a great driver-he's won, he's placed well and brings the cars home- he really is valuable to the team, Ron is putting pressure on everyone to ignore David as a nonthreat it seems, Kimi is roaring and storming the grid, and david ends up at the podium anyway...i think its a ruse

[Adam43]

Originally posted by touringlegend
When Ron was interviewed on ITV this afternoon I just knew this subject would creep up on here.

I thought that too, but I didn't think creep

I agree with DNQ.

[Schummy]

Dennis is showing again he is not really fair with DC. I remember Mika/David years, also the "famous" brain fade (stupd) incident and now this blatant contradiction as some have said above. And, yes, he was not so critical in Spain.

IMHO, DC is not so good WDC prospect as KR (or as obviously MH was) but I think he didn't judge DC's errors fairly in equal terms as his teammates.

[JohnSSC]

Ron, like many, speaks without listening to himself (or thinking deeply aforehand)! Much ado about nothing. Of course, that didn't stop me from commenting on it...hmmmm...

[Adam43]

It's sort of the same as DC complaining about his 'luck' at the car breaking all the time (e.g. Malaysia this year). Not really an issue.

[Mania]

Originally posted by JohnSSC
Ron, like many, speaks without listening to himself (or thinking deeply aforehand)!

Agreed.

Whenever ITV sticks a microphone in Ron's face they're usually looking for a good word about DC..today it was a different story..nothing major..DC shouldnt be worried..not yet anyway.

[gttouring]

any team would be blessed to get DC, so mercedes loss could be Renault's gain, o even Jag if they keep this pace up, I think he is WDC material, and he only has a few years to do it- let's not forget damon hill though, at 36 so time is a little factor if you have the minerals

[Avid Merrion]

Im sure Ron never really had his heart in having DC as his driver anyway .

But DC hasnt really ever been a superstar has he ?

[paddywic]

Let's face it, DC has been in F1 at the top for how long now? he's been out classed each time by his first competition, he's ****!
He's annoying, a Mclaren lap dog, yes man, and wines all the time! he's an old fart!

[jetsetter]

I can't see DC staying at McLaren next year as the relationship between him & Ron Dennis just seems too strained, i wouldn't be the least bit suprised if he joined Jaguar next year.

[Yoong Montoya]

Originally posted by jetsetter
I can't see DC staying at McLaren next year as the relationship between him & Ron Dennis just seems too strained, i wouldn't be the least bit suprised if he joined Jaguar next year.

Nah, he'll stay with McLaren again to be a good little doggy just so that he can surpass Hakkinen's 8 full seasons with the same team

[paddywic]

Dc seems to be anti F1 at the moment, he sighs and moans on his high horse, can't see progress with the bigger picture in mind, ie "dumbing down F1"
a direct quote he's using from big Ron. As such he'll never really break the big time and win in any proper fashion and be a World champ. He's getting more and more like eddie irvine! as Micheal said two seasons ago, "he just does not not have what it takes!"

[type49]

In a contract year he couldn't praise him too much. Much ado....

[Dutton]

It was simple corporate blurb.

[Armco Bender]

Ron's just really a cuddly Teddy bear.I think you guys are just reading too much into what some journo's written about a throw away line he may have heard Ron say.

[Logrence]

ITV-F1 really have put a spin on the comments - ignore it, it's just rubbish.

[garcon]

There's nothing much in it. Obviously DC's qual lap was a disappointment, but as Ron pointed out, he'll be hard enough on himself. And that is worth saying, because it implies that he knows DC will have been disappointed with it and will respond.

As for being more (publicly) critical of DC than Kimi, that does not suggest any bias towards Kimi, merely that Ron knows his drivers well enough to know how to get the best from them.

[rpolinski]

I seem to remember Ron criticising Senna from time to time. Usually around contract negotiation time.