I've never been an Alonso fan... And his behavior last year tarnished his reputation greatly IMHO... But how the hell did Renault get so strong in the last few races??? Only one answer seems likely... Alonso. Anyone else found respect / admiration for him in the last few races? Honda / Toyota... are you guys watching?
Without a doubt the single best development driver. The man KNOWS F1 cars, and he knows how to set them up. Best driver based on pure driving can be argued but hes the best IMO again. His team threw him under the bus last year so he returned the favor. If he screws Renault over again he is a ******bag. They worked with him and brought his car to the front lines. Hell he would be probably be WDC if you based it off of the last half of the season.
Alonso is a pimp, no doubt. I hope Ferrari picks him up. This year he showed, beyond a shadow of a doubt, he is an elite level driver. More elite than Kimi or Massa, definitely.
getting fired from mclaren and having the entire world hate him (besides spain) seems to have been humblingar enough even for the hot-headed alonso. i was glad to he hear that he went over to the mclaren garage a couple of hours after the race ended and congratulated lewis. i hope renault stays on form and we have a nice 4 way fight next year: Ferrari, Mclaren, BMW, & Renault (Maybe even Vettel with Torro Rosso?)
If I were to start an F1 team alonso and vettel would be my drivers, despite knowing how alonso feels about fast teammates...he's a master at car development....
He kept his mouth shut this year and produced on the track definitely enhanced my opinion of him. Hopefully Renault will be as strong next year as they finished off the season this year.
It's incredible to me that when Alonso, a two time champ, publicly complains about his team, his reputation is tarnished, he's a whiner, damaged goods, blah, blah, blah, but when Kubica complains publicly about his team no one says a word.
I don't know about the others but it was Alonso's victory dance that did it. He can give Elaine a run for her money
I like FA Luis but he does whine, more than me.. but apparently he went over to the Mc garage and gave his congrat's to LH so fair dues to him.. Rubick cube is getting a bit of bad press of late, whether or not it's fact I don't know, but it was a fact he was playing a silly bugger at the final stages of the Brazilian race unlapping himself by all accounts.
He did not get fired from McLaren and the world does not hate him...even here there was a poll 67% voted for him " If Ferrari needed a new driver- Alonso or Hamilton? " http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=218674 He is the only Two Time Champ on the grid, he can drive. if he kept his mouth shut was because he was treated well by Briatore and the team, unlike Ron´s last year.
I never liked Alonso until this year. When he was in a late fight with Schuey for the 06 title, he blasted his team before Suzuka (in China?) and acted ridiculously. If not for Schuey's blown engine, Alonso might've gone even further! And then he went to Mclaren and same story but more dramatic. But this year he seems a different person. Much more composed .. just shut up and drive. I would call him the most complete driver in the field now. If Ferrari, Mclaren, Renault and Red Bull gets to be competitive next season we'll have great scraps every fortnight!
Hamilton almost choked his 2nd championship in 2 years. Finishing 5th after barely passing Timo Glock on the wrong tires on the last lap is not how a deserving champion wins. Massa and Kimi did not drive like champions either. Schumie was nice to both Massa and Hamilton but must be thinking how pathetic these guys are compared to the drivers of the past. Vettel and Alonso are the drivers who should be driving for Ferrari in the future. Real racers that win in cars that should not....instead of the opposite.
Just shut up and drive? You kidding? He's been dropping hints about where he'll be in 2009, all year. He's been down talking Mclaren and saying he'd help Massa to the title. Alonso certainly hasn't shut up, but yes he's been driving exceptionally well.
He has been hinting that he may not be driving for RenaultF1 next season. And he was talkin about Massa on the latter part of the season, that´s it.
And who, may I ask, does not whine? : ) I dunno what Kubica's problem was but one thing is clear, BMW Sauber didn't go in the direction RK wanted them to go with the car and he feels they lost him a good shot at the title. I'm not sure about his problem with Hamilton, but he did mention that they weren't as close as they once were. Maybe there is more to that story than what we know.
My respect for alonso has grown immensely this season. He really pulled of a miracle towards the end of the season.
Massa was one of the few who deserved to win the championship, possibly more than hamilton and he was the only one keeping ferrari afloat. Other than silverstone he had a good season and lost a lot to bad luck.
