Who said what? A choice selection from the season just gone
Monday 15 December 2014 16:48, UK
Who said what? Re-live the season just gone with a choice selection of quotes from the great and the good of the sport.
“My fellow shareholders have mandated me to write an exciting new chapter in the story of McLaren, beginning by improving our on-track and off-track performance.” Ron Dennis announces his return as McLaren CEO in January, an appointment which also signalled the departure of team boss Martin Whitmarsh.
“I suppose it could be true. Maybe four World Championships really have turned him into a screaming primadonna. Perhaps what really happened is Seb leapt out of the car and started foaming at the mouth.” Red Bull respond to speculation that the World Champion threw a 'hissy fit' at the pre-season Jerez test, in which they managed just 21 laps in four days.
"I think a lot of these Doomsday scenarios are quite unlikely.” FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting addresses concerns that none of the new breed of hybrid F1 cars would finish the season-opening Australian GP. As it turned out, 14 cars took the chequered flag in Melbourne.
"It's just a small hiccup, there's a long way to go.” Lewis Hamilton after retiring on lap two in Albert Park.
“I was not horrified by the noise, I was horrified by the lack of it.” Bernie Ecclestone on F1’s new, ‘quiet’ engines after the Australian GP.
"It's s**t." Sebastian Vettel gives his opinion on the sound of the new V6 turbos in Malaysia.
“I think technically, to be perfectly honest, it’s slightly questionable.” Red Bull designer Adrian Newey on F1’s ‘green’ credentials in Bahrain.
“I think many people from the UK will remember a guy called Ratner who basically killed his business by negative comments on it.” Williams Chief Technical Officer Pat Symonds in Bahrain as elements of the sport continued to debate the quality of F1's new soundtrack.
“I cannot impose it. It's mathematics. So in this case, no more cost cap." FIA President Jean Todt in Bahrain after governing body’s plans for a budget cap in 2015 are rejected by Ecclestone and the bigger teams.
“It's motivating for me and it's good to receive good comments. But it's funny when you see the opposite in your closest friends.” Fernando Alonso wondering in Monaco why everyone except Ferrari says he’s the best driver in the world.
"Fernando is the best driver in the world, who always gives 200% in the races." Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo responds.
“We’re always friends, we’ve always been friends. But friends is a big word.” Nico Rosberg after his controversial victory over Lewis Hamilton in the Monaco GP.
“We’re not friends, we’re colleagues.” Hamilton responds.
“We both want to work together in the future but it’s just not time yet. Not the right time.” Jenson Button discusses his F1 future at June's Canadian GP.
"The reliability is unacceptable. The performance is unacceptable. There needs to be change at Renault.” Christian Horner spells it out after Red Bull’s dismal showing at their home race in Austria.
“It’s plastic, it must have cost ten pounds. It’s so bad.” British GP winner Lewis Hamilton on the trophy he was handed on the podium at Silverstone.
"To be honest, Nico has never been in Germany, so he’s not really German. I remember when we used to race during karting, he never stood next to a German flag – not ever.” Lewis Hamilton's apparent attempt at mind games ahead of Nico Rosberg's home grand prix.
“I think he’s doing unbelievable.” Fernando Alonso praises Daniel Ricciardo after their duel in July’s German GP.
"That's how you do it, ladies." Ricciardo's radio message after he passed Alonso for the lead of the Hungarian GP the following weekend.
“We’ve just had a meeting and he basically said he did it on purpose. He said he did it on purpose. He said he could have avoided it. He said ‘I did it to prove a point’.” Lewis Hamilton after his collision with Nico Rosberg at the Belgian GP.
“I don’t have to keep Fernando Alonso happy.” Ferrari Team Principal Marco Mattiacci to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle at the Belgian GP.
“The thing that you need to understand is that from outside you see one thing, from the inside it’s very different. For the last 2-3 months, you should understand really which direction I move in, but you didn’t get it. When I tell you, you will understand right.” Fernando Alonso talks in riddles about his future in Japan.
“Fourteen, I think.” Max Verstappen is asked how young is too young in F1 after making his practice debut, aged 17, in Japan.
“It is probably better to take the decision to slow down away from the drivers.” Charlie Whiting discusses safety improvements under yellow flags after Jules Bianchi’s accident at Suzuka.
"I think it’s a disaster. We don’t want begging bowls.” Bernie Ecclestone on Caterham’s crowdfunding drive in Brazil.
“I don’t know why people want to get to the so-called ‘young generation’. Why do they want to do that? Is it to sell them something? Most of these kids haven’t got any money. I’d rather get to the 70-year-old guy who’s got plenty of cash.” Ecclestone on helping F1 reach a younger audience.
“If he tried to mean I was unmotivated then he arrived too late at Ferrari. He has only a few months here and he didn’t probably see all the five years I spent here and I fought every single race and World Championship.” Fernando Alonso on Marco Mattiacci's suggestion that new signing Sebastian Vettel is more motivated than he is.
“I’m very surprised about this question.” Mattiacci is asked after the Abu Dhabi GP whether he’ll be around in 2015. Ferrari announced his departure the following day.
"This is the greatest day of my life. 2008 was special but the feeling I have now is way past that. It's the greatest feeling I have ever had.” Lewis Hamilton after winning his second World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
