P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Fernando Alonso’s $1000 gift almost got his F1 mechanics “sacked” at McLaren during an acrimonious 2007 season.
A $1000 gift from Fernando Alonso almost caused McLaren’s Formula 1 mechanics to be sacked during the tumultuous 2007 season. Alonso’s partnership with rookie Lewis Hamilton at McLaren was filled with intense rivalry and unexpected competition. Despite expectations for Alonso to win a third consecutive title with McLaren, Hamilton matched his performance throughout the season. This internal rivalry ultimately led to both drivers losing the championship by a single point to Kimi Raikonnen. Alonso’s gesture of sharing prize money with the mechanics, as he used to do at Renault, was met with disapproval by McLaren’s management, ultimately contributing to his departure after just one season. The behind-the-scenes tension and suspicions only exacerbated the strained relationship between Alonso and Hamilton, highlighting the challenges faced by McLaren during that season.
