Fast but no heart. He cruised in at the end of 2010 and this year again seems like he has just given up. Or at least his mopey demeanor belies the fact that the Ferrari designers have no answer for Red Bull. I think of drivers like Nigel Mansell or Senna who'd be out there battling wheel to wheel and talking arrogant trash in the press until the last inch of the last race. Alonso can't compare and I don't think he'll be remembered by the tifosi. Hell, Raikkonen and Massa WON two constructors championships and a driver's championship between them and they're forgotten or, in Massa's case, trashed. Ferrari needs to Alonso him as much as Massa. Massa was actually a much better fit at Ferrari before his injury.
Other cars are developing faster than Ferrari is. In no way do I defend Alonso as I'm no fan of his, but some people are always quick to judge without knowing all.
They´re doing what they can with what they have available. Senna? The guy who in 1993 raced for McLaren with single race contracts because he didn´t want to commit to the team for the full season? Mansell? The guy who only made two races in 1995 before throwing the towel? Raikkonen and Massa? What did they achieve in 2009 with a bad car? This season they´ve started with even worse material, and now they´re not winning but they´re kicking McLaren´s ass, the team that won the first GP of the season. C´mon...
People far better connected & knowledgeable about F1 than you or I still say that Alonso is the best/most complete driver package on the grid. Very, very rarely does he have a bad day. I'm afraid you are talking out of your hat - its quite clear that the Ferrari has not been the best car on the grid at pretty much any point this year & that Alonso has maximised its points scoring portential in just about every race save for one bad strategy call earlier in the season and getting wiped out on the first corner twice. Massa had a better day today, but its been a rarity this season (or last).
+1 I guess the OP never knew Mansell - He could (and did) ***** & moan about pretty much everything and it was *never* his fault. Certainly among the most undeserving WDC's of all time IMO. Beyond that, what's Fred meant to do? Jump for joy at getting his doors blown off by the Cans? Celebrate losing the lead in the championship? He, more or less single handedly has dragged Clifford forward all season. He's dedicated, fast, and a worthy *multiple* champion. *He* has the heart of a lion these days. Mansell's not fit to carry his helmet IMO. Cheers, Ian
Unsympathetic to any of the excuses you all make for a washed up driver. Alonso efforts are as bankrupt as his country of origin. WTFF (what the flying f***) does 2009 have to do with the CHAMPIONSHIPS Raikonnen and Massa WON in 2007/8? Read Winston Goodfellow I meant Mansell the driver would battle with Senna. Uhh, yeah Senna the 3 time champ regarded by most as the greatest of all time and who went out and beat the greatest (technologically) car of all time (Williams FW15) on more than a few occasions. Whatever his contract status. Jeeezus. His contract? Seriously? I've got two if you want to pull the other one. Quit attacking Massa and covering for Alonso.
It has a lot to do. With a good car, winning is possible, like Raikkonen and Alonso have done (Alonso twice) in the past. With a bad car, you have to fight back. In 2009, they couldn´t. This year they can. Both Senna and Mansell were whiners, like most of the drivers, thruth must be told. Senna didn´t believe in his team nor was interested in working in the car, hence the single race contracts. Actually he was so desperate that he offered his services to Williams for free. How do you think that this attitude could be useful for McLaren? In the other hand, Alonso has signed an extension till 2017 at the beginning of the season, when the tide was very low. He´s taking risks when he has to do, like at Monza a few weeks ago trying to overtake Vettel on the grass, and keeping his head over the shoulders when he understands that he can´t win, like today. That´s something that Mansell didn´t understand so well. And actually I don´t see how talking arrogant trash in the press would improve the car. You probably won´t agree with me, but I think that it´s better for both to agree to disagree.
Wow, there have been some REALLY stupid posts since the end of the Korean Grand Prix. Alonso haters have come out of hiding and it's been hilarious. You sir, have no idea what you're talking about.
[size=+5]NOT[/size], unless they come with some spectacular upgrades. Alonso' third was the best Clifford was ever going to get, especially now the RedBulls have found some extra pace. dantenfw, quit trolling and posting rubbish ... sigh. Pete
From his Minardi days Alonso has been considered by all down the pit lane to be a quick driver and in the recent past the most complete driver, extracting results beyond the cars abilities. The car he is currently driving has been lacking from race 1 of this season and he has virtually carried it on his shoulders to the finish line. Give the man credit for his perseverance and race craft. ....and by no means would I consider myself an Alonso supporter or fan.
My only question about Alonso is why he was being outdriven by Massa today (when he was trying to catch Webber). He had newer tires, if I remember correctly. Anyway, no way in hell Alonso could have done any better today with his car. You saw what happened when he was finally catching up to Webber; he was left in the dust in 2 laps. So why push that hard and risk an accident or mechanical DNF? He still has a pretty good chance of winning, but that's going to depend on Ferrari. The motivation is there for sure. If not for the team, surely for himself. And they're 2nd on the constructor's championship; THAT was a great achievement for Ferrari today.
Pressure maybe?. Massa has little, Alonso has the worlds tifosi on his shoulders and had just had 2 DNFs. Agree. Pete
