Latest F1 news in brief
- McLaren enjoying 'Alonso factor' – Fittipaldi
- 'My data helps Hamilton' – Alonso
- Massa – 'no comment' on McLaren spat
McLaren enjoying 'Alonso factor' – Fittipaldi
(GMM) Emerson Fittipaldi says McLaren are enjoying the fruits of the 'Alonso factor' in 2007.
Officials at Renault have consistently played down the effect that the double world champion's departure has had on the team's performance this year, but Fittipaldi – twice a title winner in the 70s – said the influence of a successful driver can be "very important" for a winning grand prix team.
"Every team has a very positive attitude when they pick up the best driver," the Brazilian told Diario As.
"It changes (the situation) a lot. Fernando has shown for years his capacity to drive and develop his cars on a high level. He also brought a lot of privileged information (from Renault).
"He is doing at McLaren exactly what he did at Renault."
Fittipaldi, 60, also denied that Alonso needs to worry about the 'Lewis Hamilton factor' at McLaren, after the Spaniard complained in recent days about the support his rookie teammate gets from the British squad.
"There is no danger for Fernando," he insisted. "All he needs to do is forget about everything except winning.
"Every country goes crazy if they have a driver who is doing good things.
"But inside the McLaren team the drivers are equal, because it is in their interest that they have two top drivers.
"I know Ron Dennis, and he wants to win, win and win, and that is all. And both the drivers have the possibility to achieve it."
'My data helps Hamilton' – Alonso
(GMM) Fernando Alonso's biggest concern alongside Lewis Hamilton this year is his reluctance to share his telemetry and setup data with the rookie sensation — who is now leading the world championship by eight points.
Ivan Capelli, who in 1992 drove a spell for Ferrari, marveled in Indianapolis, barely a week after Hamilton's first win: "It cannot be that a newcomer is beating a two time champion of the world."
The Spanish newspaper Diario As, however, has a theory — after openly studying Spaniard Alonso's data on a Friday evening at grands prix, only then is 22-year-old Hamilton able to drive on the same level as his experienced and successful teammate.
"He studies (Alonso's) braking points, where he turns, every detail, and because he is a very good driver and because McLaren is a very good team he is able to dispute for pole position."
Alonso admitted himself on Thursday that one of the things that is making him uncomfortable at McLaren this year is "the sharing of telemetry".
He told Spanish reporters: "All of my data, and also that of Pedro (de la Rosa), is available to him, and I am sure that it is a help to him."
Massa – 'no comment' on McLaren spat
(GMM) Felipe Massa in Indianapolis refused to weigh in on the apparent 'civil war' between McLaren's driver duo Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
The issue has been the hot topic at the scene of Sunday's US grand prix, but Massa said he and his Ferrari team were not hoping to benefit on the track from any of the fallout.
"I do not have anything to say about it," the Brazilian is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper Diario As.
"It is not my team and I have no idea what happens next door to us."
McLaren's Alonso on Saturday morning completed an impressive hat-trick of practice dominance at Indianapolis, but Massa said Ferrari were instead focusing on their own work.
"The important thing is to win races, to make our car more competitive — that is where all of our attention is dedicated.
"I don't know if what is going on at McLaren will cause them to make some mistakes, but our job is just to be in front."