Alonso: Schu is the main threat

As I have said before, no one is writing off Schu. I am quite surprised by how frank Alonso is regarding how terrified he is of Schu if he gets into a good car. I could hear something like this coming from a retired F1 driver or a middle-pack runner, but Alonso with the might of Ferrari behind him? No, I did not expect this




Fernando Alonso has predicted that Michael Schumacher could be his most 'dangerous' rival this year in the battle for the F1 2011 drivers' title.

Alonso, who had to settle for the runners-up spot last season in the drivers' championship, after a nightmare final race in Abu Dhabi, warned that the German should never be written off, even if he did struggle on his return with Mercedes in 2010, following a three-year period in 'retirement'.

"There will be five world champions on the track [this season] and the most dangerous champion for me is always Michael," Alonso told journalists at the traditional joint Ferrari/Ducati 'Wrooom' media launch at the Madonna di Campiglio ski resort in the Italian Dolomites.

"[So] now in January if I have to choose one name I have to say Michael [is my main worry]. He is seven-times champion. He has nothing to prove.

“He had a difficult season [in 2010] but he is still a champion. He is still super class and if the car is right he will be a contender."

Alonso also added that he expects Sebastian Vettel to step it up a gear now he has won the title: "No doubt Sebastian will be a contender [too]. He will have experience and will be calm in certain moments,” Alonso continued. “He will drive better than last year and that makes him dangerous to us.

“McLaren will also be one of the favourites. Hopefully [though] our car is better than the others and my toughest rival this year is Felipe [Massa – my team-mate]."

Meanwhile, Alonso noted that the disappointment of missing out in 2010 will just make the Scuderia even more determined this season.

"When you succeed the emotions, feelings don't make you think of the general view of what happened. When you don't succeed, you look into the details,” he concluded.

http://www.crash.net/f1/news/165864/1/alonso_schumacher_will_be_dangerous_in_f1_2011.html

 

I read it on the BBC and came to post it, but I see you've beaten me to it!

BBC Sport - F1 - Fernando Alonso wary of Michael Schumacher threat​

I'm looking forward to seeing Schumacher in a car that has had his input throughout its development.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Aha!

 

How do you spell "wind-up"?

Or "whined-up".

Games are started already LOL

 

Exactly right.

The gamesmanship is already in gear and if they can
put more pressure on Schumacher, they'll pile it on.

The media buys into it and expectations for Schumacher
gets sky high before testing even starts.

BHW

 

I can believe that to a certain extent, but not as much as others. When was the last time you saw any driver name they were afraid of anyone like this? Ever. I know it's Schu, but there is a reason they are putting the pressure on, and it certainly is not because he is washed up.

 

He might recon that Schu is going to be his main rival, but Lewis Hamiltons track position will always be fore most in his mind

 

I don't think he's trying to get into Michael's head, I think he's trying to get into Vettel's head. First he says that Michael is the guy to be most concerned about, then he says that Vettel is now going to be cool headed in stressful situations (requiring instant decisions).

 

A laser beam, right on the bullseye, blasting through Alonso's charade.

Alonso was undeniably, unmistakably and un-explain-away-able beaten by one man in his lifetime, and that man is Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso will spend the rest of his life convincing everyone (read: himself) that the above isn't the case, but we (he) knows it is

And it BURNS him up!

 

did you pick up on this while cruising with him on his yacht, or maybe one night over dinner, or was it maybe during one of your sessions with him as his shrink?

You obviously know him really well and on a personal level to know this stuff. It's fascinating. How did you meet?

 

Good questions. He talks about Alonso all the time, he must know him well.

 

After Alonso kept Schumacher at bay at Imola, it's
doubtful he fears him.

The drivers may fear Schumacher for, perhaps, the
way he drove at Canada last year?

BHW

 

Car > driver. Webber coming in 3rd this year is proof of that. Alonso could also say that Verstappen in a top car would be a threat and wouldn't be wrong. Any decent driver in a top car = threat.

 

hehehe...

 

You don't have to be very perceptive to pick it up, but if you don't pick it up, you may be in denial.

Alonso's reaction has been the most frantic and heated whenever Hamilton is involved. It's not a coincidence that Hamilton happens to be the guy who beat Alonso in equal machinery - the only F1 driver who can say that, head to head, he beat Alonso.

It's comical how Alonso won't even address Hamilton the way he addresses others, and it's obvious he isn't really worried about Schumi next year.

 

You make it sound as if Alonso got his ass kicked to Pluto and back by Hamilton while they were in Mercs.

 

A yard is as good as a mile in F1, and a win is a win (so says Kimi)

It may just be that watching a Spaniard with insecurity issues lash out is something I've had some experience with before

 

They were both tied in points that year at 109 each. LH came out on top due to a few better placements, but they were both still tied in points so it's not any kind of ass kicking that you imagine it is.

And a win is a win, but neither of them won the WDC that year.

 

back to the F1 section and same ol same ol. people with their own personal hangups/obsessions dishing out the same ol same ol as 'FACT'. it is what it is i suppose, if other's are possibly in denial, then SURELY people with obsessive hatred, for whatever reason, are really in fact warped. but of course, it's all fun to read and comment on

anyhooo....can't wait to see the new car!! even more, can't for 'testing' to begin.

 

no no no no! where have you been these past few seasons? LH whooped him! I mean BEAT HIM INTO THE DIRT AND THEN SOME!

errr, yeah. sure, technically LH finished a pip ahead, but if you've been around now and then you'd realize how Mike has a strong case based on FACTS that indicated LH beat the crap out of FA! and in fact, because of that, FA has been emotionally damaged forever! He was already a dyed in the wool scumbag (because all of us on F-chat have hung out with FA often, and we know him well) dang it, how do you make a sarcastic emoticon? i need one right here.

 

None of that matters.

What matters is the result. There are no asterisks on any of the numbers that say "this only means...".

Alonso knows he got beaten that year, and I think it's clear this fact burns him up.

 

+100
And Lewis was a complete rookie the year he beat Alonso. Reading some of the posts above, i fear that there are some on here who are suffering from the same denial syndrome as Alonso.

 

It brings a smile to my face and a tear of laughter to my eye every time someone tries to argue with a record book that is written in stone and indisputable.

You will note, of course, that there is no asterisk after LH's result in 2007, nor KR's result in 2007, nor LH's result in 2008, nor FM's result in 2008, nor anyone else's result.....

....much as those in denial would like there to be

 

Fernando knows how to stir the pot, doesn't he?

BTW Are there any asterisks in any record books?

 

If Barry Bonds doesn't have an asterisk in the MLB record books*, it's not looking good for the "guys on the internet who don't like that their favorite driver lost" movement



*interestingly, some guy bought the ball that Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record with, had an asterisk imprinted on it, and donated it to the hall of fame. There certainly appear to be plenty of folks with the requisite level of angst and denial, now which of them has the bank to buy LH's '07 McLaren chassis and paint an asterisk on it?