Ecclestone: Alonso not an F1 great http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/652526/Ecclestone_Alonso_not_an_F1_great/ Former owner of Formula 1 Bernie Ecclestone believes that Fernando Alonso is not a legend of the sport due to too many bad decisions made. Alonso has managed to pick up two world championships, but his last win was all the way back in 2013. The Spaniard, who is retiring at the end of the season, moved to his current team McLaren back in 2015 and has not managed a single podium finished with the side. Ecclestone admits that Alonso's one of the best drivers in F1 history but does not think he deserves 'legend' status. "He is definitely one of the best drivers, but sometimes he made the wrong decisions," Ecclestone told Bild. "He is certainly not the greatest in other areas of life. "Stirling Moss was never world champion, but he was one of the greatest." With Alonso moving on from the sport and hoping for better days ahead, his replacement at McLaren and compatriot Carlos Sainz believes that the sport won't suffer from the charismatic driver's departure. "I'm not afraid of that," the soon-to-be McLaren driver told AS newspaper. "There are a lot of Formula 1 fans thanks to Fernando. It is true that many fans came from Spain first for Fernando but they stayed because they like F1 as a sport. "Of course there will be people who go with Fernando to Indy, but I think it is thanks to Fernando that there is a very large fan-base in Spain. I will do everything I can to keep it that way."
Bernie sees eye to crotch with most people, apart from Warwick Davis (ewok/various robots in Star Wars films)
"He is definitely one of the best drivers, but sometimes he made the wrong decisions," Ecclestone told Bild. I agree with this.
In regards to Alonso they, Bernie and Nico essentially say the same thing. If you rate his driving alone then he is one of the greatest however it is not driving alone that makes a career. They are correct and I’ve been saying the same as them. They’ve actually both seen and interacted with Alsono first hand.
Great wisdom from Bernie, especially around 17:50. Not much wisdom from Nico, but at least he's listening.
If Bernie were in charge of the UK, Brexit would be done, and the EU would be trying to be a member of Great Britain...... master negotiator. You don’t have to like him personally to admire him in business. He’s a bit like trump - his personal views are sometimes the opposite of polite society (not necessarily wrong though) but he gets business done, and made a success of a big mess.... same as I think trump will do for the USA, sort out the mess it’s gotten into over the years and drive them out of it
Not many drivers could sit with Bernie and conduct an interview without him wandering away inside of 10 minutes, kudos to Nico. Wish I could have heard more pointed questions, his rundown of the teams, drivers, Liberty (his comments were guarded), and maybe word association with past drivers and notables within the sport. Other than that, a solid effort with a mild debate on Trump. Cool. Thought Bernie looked good actually.
A bit of a necro-post, but I thought dusting off an Alonso thread somewhat appropriate after his work at Daytona. Some very impressive driving under terrible conditions, pressuring the leader into making a mistake resulting in the eventual win. As an aside, it looks like he's enjoying himself (other than some mid-race rain-induced tension). Winning is a wonderful tonic.
If Bernie was in charge of the UK many of you would be in a gulag making F1 merchandise or doing forced labour resurfacing Silverstone.
Fernando Alonso has said he is open to coming back to Formula 1, but only to “rest a little” from his hectic schedule. https://www.planetf1.com/news/alonso-ill-come-back-to-f1-to-rest-a-little/ Alonso’s first post-Formula 1 retirement venture saw him become only the third F1 World Champion to win the 24 Hours of Daytona over the weekend. But the Spaniard is by no means taking it easy and said he is busier now than he was a year ago when he was still donning the McLaren colours. “I have more to do this year than 12 months ago,” Alonso said following his historic win. “Of course it will be stressful for those in Formula 1 as soon as the season starts. “But I have not had a single month off this month, and in February the tests with [WEC team] Toyota start again. “The Indy programme will also start, so I will be very, very busy until June. “I did not expect this busy schedule. “People ask me what life is like without Formula 1 and my answer is ‘Maybe I’ll come back to the F1 paddock to rest a little’.” McLaren are keen to maintain a good relationship with Alonso, who could hop into their 2019 car at some stage throughout the season and provide feedback to the current line-up of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris.
Hahahaha, he wouldn’t use us to resurface silverstone unless they paid him double the value of the work... hehehehehe. He’d use us all to make a picket line at the gates to prevent silverstone making any money at all from the gp and then charge them to have us leave....... Bernie’s own Cosa nostra
His first stint pass on Helio for the lead was great. Sequential tows on the bank. Helio in the post-stint interview, "The #10 was too strong"
