(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Yet while that conflict is quite fresh because not even two full seasons have passed, the other conflict between team mates described in Chequered Conflict, has been forgotten by the younger generation.
Maurice Hamilton describes in his book how even the passing of the decades does not affect the essence of the sport.
Maurice makes comparisons between two seasons, seasons that while set apart in decades can easily resemble each other; in both instances the squabbling between two team mates has resulted in the loss of championships.
In 2007 Kimi Raikkonen helped Ferrari clinch their first constructors’ championship since 2004 and take also the Drivers’ crown fro himself as McLaren self destructed from within; in 1986 the same occurred as Mansell and Piquet, both racing for Williams, battled between each other as Prost took the crown and so did McLaren.
Maurice Hamilton has been the Observer's motor racing correspondent since 1990. A published author, he can also be heard on BBC Radio Five Live as their formula one summariser. He is an award winning motor sport journalist who has written several successful books on the subject of F1.
Maurice in this case has chosen to address a subject previously untouched, and while in the past Maurice has addressed the subject of what is wrong with Fernando Alonso, in Chequered Conflict he gives a very “neutral” point of view.
His “neutral” point of view can not be truly neutral because the media can only build their articles based on information provided and not given.
The British media, while often brutal when addressing Button’s performance, Lewis’ poor showing, however it becomes nationalistic when it comes to the type of conflict that occurred between Alonso and McLaren, and Alonso and Lewis; the same occurs in Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, etc.
When the conflict within McLaren did take place the articles and opinions written were based on what information is provided willingly or can be wrestled out of their mouths and minds, and it became difficult to gain a truly neutral picture of the situation.
What Maurice Hamilton has done when addressing both conflicts in his book is collect all the information that was available to him, and present it to the reader including some interpretation based on his years of involvement in motorsports.
Because the information is incomplete due to choice to maintain the privacy by McLaren, Lewis, and Alonso, Maurice like the reader the picture of the 2007 conflict remains somewhat incomplete. Even 23 years later the reader still is kept outside the inner circle of Williams and why it all went wrong in 1986 is still a mystery.
While Maurice never points a finger at any one person, in the book he seems to imply that really all the parties are to blame.
Pride and ego in both cases was not put aside and the larger picture not looked at; championships could have been won, but it was one driver or the other that wanted to bring that glory home, and thus they both squandered their possibility, their potential.
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete