Current Fernando Alonso

Suprised there's no thread (although I had one for his blogs), so i'll start off:

A double world championship vs Raikkonen and then Schumacher in 2005 and 2006 respectively elevated Alonso's status but, apparently, no one told his rookie teammate at his brand new team of a theoretical 'pecking order' the following season ... and the Spaniard was 'seen off' by the young Englishman, Hamilton, into two years of Wilderness while both Hamilton and an even younger Vettel began to make their mark through '08 and '09.

Arguably, Alonso was in the Top 3 of all the Formula One 'Aces' in the 2000s following Hakkinen's retirement - up there with either Schumacher/Raikkonen and, then, Raikkonen/Hamilton - and remains so in the early 2010s along with Hamilton/Vettel...with only Kubica knocking on the door until the Pole's horrible Rallying accident.

A question mark initially over 2004 during which Trulli lead him in the standing until the Italian fell out with ex-manager and team boss Flavio Briatore (Alonso's then business manager) under dubious circumstances after the French Grand Prix.

Another question mark is...Who has progressed more since the end of 2007: Hamilton or Alonso?

A fan. Then came the unfortunate blackmail allegations against McLaren boss Ron Dennis on the morning of the 2007 Hungarian GP which came to light at the highly costly FIA 'Spy-Gate' hearings before Spa...followed by the odour of the deliberate crashing of the Number 2 Renault car at Singapore in 2008 which lead to Alonso finishing 1st in the event and ended in the banning of Briatore and Pat Symmonds a year later.

2009 was a poor year with 'Nando's' mind likely on the prospect of Santander paving the way to better prospects at Maranello one year earlier.

2010 was a fresh start at Ferrari (who no longer had Schumacher walking through the premises regularly) but first half season mistakes ultimately cost him a title inspite of being infamously aided by a Team Orders switch w Massa at Hockenheim (which lead to more world-wide criticism).

Relatively fast, relatively consistent but prone to mistakes and a possible insecurity complex (*) based on wanting sole focus from a team and being only happy with a Number 2 in the other car running behind him. Anything else and it seemingly rattles him.

(*) This is my own personal opinion.

..and so to 2011...

He's underperformed only at Malaysia (hit Hamilton) and China (invisible while Massa challenged McLarens and Red Bulls) and, arguably, Canada...but has maximized his chances in the other 6 races culminating in the British GP win.

He said in his post-Monaco blog that 'Silverstone would be the WDC cut-off'...and so, after some major upgrades, the Ferrari looks a winner again. It might be too late for 2011 given Vettel's finishing rate...but the 2012 regs means they should keep the hammer down at Maranello.

He's signed on through to 2016...So hopes are high of a WDC at some juncture...but not yet.

 

[Slyboogy]

But the point is that he had an poor first half of the season in a car undoubtedly inferior to the Red Bull...

I wouldn't say it was inferior in the first few races, both Ferrari's in Bahrain where hanging on to Vettel, closing in on him too, Australia both Ferrari's had good races, who knows what Alonso would have achieved if he didn't get tagged at the start, plus Massa was held up in the pits for a long time because of that stupid rule (which annoys me in the F1 game! ), Malaysia they clearly had the pace. China they could have been in contention for the win, mixed circumstances and a Alonso mistake.

The Ferrari was not at all a bad car in the first half of 2010, Red Bull as usual had the advanatage in qualifying even then it was marginal at the start, otherwise I found them quite equal to Red Bull's pace, I wouldn't call the car "undoubtedly inferior" until Spain onwards.

And yes, finishing 4 points off the title in the position he was in at Silverstone was quite a supreme effort.

 

[KekeTheKing]

my respect for his wheel to wheel fighting is going up and up. Not only is he fair when he's overtaking he's fair when he's being overtaken.

Absolutely agree Ras. I would have to say that Alonso's behavior on the circuit has been exemplary this year.

 

[FB]

Brundle said in his commentary (can't remember at which race) that Fernando gains energy from the title battle at the end of the season. If this is true (which I don't think it is - very simply the Ferrari has improved during the season in both 2010 and 2011) I can't see him ever taking another title.

 

[Slyboogy]

I can't see him ever taking another title.

I thought that too in the first half of 2010.

I think Red Bull has the advantage until 2014 is it when the rules change? After that it's anybody's game.

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

I think if Ferrari don't produce a car to Alonso's liking next season then i can see him getting very moody and wanting out of his contract with the team.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Where will he go?

McLaren?

I wouldn't touch Alonso with a 10 foot pole with all his baggage when there are faster drivers like Vettel and Hamilton on the grid to choose from.

Ferrari and Alonso were made for each other.

In fact, Ferrari have had no problems getting rid of drivers who were as big or even bigger than Alonso. Lauda, Mansell, Prost, Schumacher, Raikkonen...they were all shown the way to the exit door in one way or another so why should Alonso be any difference.

If Alonso doesn't deliver and di Montezemolo decides Vettel's the better bet, you can bet your final penny that he'll throw Nando under the bus too.

 

[Jen]

I would love to touch Alonso - if only I was 30 years younger

Yeh, he has 'baggage' but not the only one.

Can he drive and get the best from what's provided, yes.

Would Ferarri ditch him - unlikely.

Would he walk? - I think not, just a hunch.

 

[Josh]

If Alonso doesn't deliver and di Montezemolo decides Vettel's the better bet, you can bet your final penny that he'll throw Nando under the bus too.

Do you think Fernando hasn't delivered?

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

I'll tell everyone a secret.

When I saw him walking back to the pits after he tangled with Button in the wet at Montreal, I left my seat and ran dwon to the fence and began to walk alongside the guy.

I called out "Fernando" a couple of times...but he didn't look my way and kept looking ahead and kept walking.

I may not like some of the circumstances surrounding his career...but I can help but admire the gigantic talent of all these very fast F1 drivers.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Do you think Fernando hasn't delivered?

Not in 2010 when Vettel's RB6 cost the young German 66 points due to mechanical issues...and almost every time Alonso benifited directly. (Bahrain, Korea, Spain...even Australia). Those were gifts...but here are my main points:

Ferrari bent over for Nando by subjugating Massa at Germany and, thus, providing Nando with 7 extra points...but mistakes in Australia, China, Monaco, Canada, Silverstone and Belgium cost him...and then he got out-gunned by Button on the Abu Dhabi start and decided to focus on the slower RBR driver.

So, no. Especially when Webber wasn't exactly giving 7 points to Vettel on a Silver Plate...and especially when Button certainly wasn't providing Hamilton with 7 extra points on a Silver Plate.

On the contrary, Webber and Vettel took points off each other...as did Button and Hamilton.

Of the Top 3 teams only Alonso had no in-team opposition.

He didn't deliver. Period. End of.

 

[Josh]

Have to admit I forgot about 2010, but I'd say he has delivered this year, apart from one or two mistakes, but no one is flawless.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Have to admit I forgot about 2010, but I'd say he has delivered this year, apart from one or two mistakes, but no one is flawless.

You're right in that no one's flawless. For sure!

The same applies this year.

Vettel's come closest but he had that half spin while leading Canada and only collected 18 points when 25 were on offer...and then got beaten by Webber into 4th in Germany.

Alonso underperformed in Malaysia (hit Hamilton from behind, finished behind Massa) and was invisible in China while Massa was mixing it up front with the McLarens, RBRs and Rosberg.

In addition, Alonso got 0 points out of Canada at a race where Ferrari had their best qualifying. ALO 2nd - MAS 3rd on the Montreal Grid with Massa even topping Q2 if I recall. Nando tangled out of the race when he beached the car. But the Ferrari was fast enough to take 3rd or 2nd or even win.

Alonso also had a poor qually in Spa and before that in Hungary.

It's also easier for Alonso when Massa's moving out of the way like in Australia and Hungary...while Hamilton and Button are fighting away like Dogs with each other over the same bone (Canada, Hungary, even Italy).

So, yeah, Alonso's driven better than Webber and the McLaren drivers...but it's easier when your teammate isn't doing to you what Button/Hamilton have been doing to each other this year.

I just looked at the season and note that Hamilton and Button have been in some rather ruthless and hard Dog Fights with each other. China, Canada, Hungary and Italy...they were all basically Dog-Eat-Dog, Give/Take-No-Quarter.

In such circumstances it's easier for me to understand that one huge reason why Alonso's been percieved to have had a supposedly "better year" than those two is because he doesn't have to face an in-team battle with a driver of the calibre of those two at Ferrari.

Look at how Massa let Alonso sail past him in Hungary!

 

[Vortex]

What you got to remember too, Vettel has been leading out front more often than not this season, where as Alonso and crew have been fighting in the pack where they’re much more likely to have incidents and errors than Vettel is out on his own.

 

[Cookinflatsix]

Look at how Massa let Alonso sail past him in Hungary!

I particularly liked quali at Monza where the Ferraris came out in battle formation with Massa mine clearing ahead of his master and providing a tow

 

[Bill Boddy]

I'll tell everyone a secret.

....I called out "Fernando" a couple of times...but he didn't look my way and kept looking ahead and kept walking.
....

He obviously recognised you.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

He obviously recognised you.

Obviously.

He must have thought "Oh Nooooooo! My favourite Canadian Fan!"

 

[Bill Boddy]

Obviously.

He must have thought "Oh Nooooooo! My favourite Canadian Fan!"

Why did you want to speak to him anyway?

 

[Vortex]

Probably to give him advice lol

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Why did you want to speak to him anyway?

Why?

Because he's been one the three consistently fastest Grand Prix drivers over the past 7 to 9 years on average and, arguably, one of the Top 16 or Top 20 Formula One drivers since World War II.

Besides, I wouldn't call it "talk to him"...It's hard to talk with someone when you're trudging along through spectators and marshals with a chain fencing.

I just wanted to take a good look into the eyes of a top driver who'd just tangled out of a race he could have won.

 

[FB]

Hmmm, I wouldn't want to approach a driver who had just been dumped out of a Grand Prix. I was watching the 1981 British GP from the pits and Didier Pironi strolled past down the pit lane after his Ferrari Turbo had just expired. It was fairly obvious form the look on his face that this wasn't the time to ask for an autograph!