Alonso praises 'fantastic' Ricciardo after German GP (7-3 Vs Vettel)

[Lesky]

Having raced wheel-to-wheel with Daniel Ricciardo in Germany, Fernando Alonso has praised the "very smart" and "very respectful" Aussie.

Battling for position in the closing stages of Sunday's race at the Hockenheimring, Alonso and Ricciardo raced wheel-to-wheel.

The Ferrari driver, who decided to "fight with Ricciardo" rather than save fuel, won the battle, finishing fifth to Ricciardo's sixth.

The double World Champion was full of praise for the new Red Bull driver, who has proven himself throughout the season.

"Daniel is a surprise from Australia. I think he's doing unbelievable," Alonso said. "I think he's seven-three in the first ten races with Sebastian [Vettel], so it's something we probably didn't suspect.

"He's driving fantastically and he was battling very smart - always taking the slipstream off me after I pass him and braking very late, attacking very late and never missing a corner.

"He was very, very smart, very respectful with the rules and it was a great fight."

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/9389275/Alonso-praises-fantastic-Ricciardo

[ManFromMilan]

Maybe he is trying to get Daniel into a race seat at Ferrari with the public praising?

Although Daniel does seem to be a very respectful driver(and fast i might add) and person.

[ARUN M KARUNAN]

ALO and ric will be great combination for 2015.if scuderia again makes a scrap car,both will run it to front like they are doing now!and they have similar driving styles too!
Unforunatly rbr said they will not leave him till 2018.After 2018 he will be asset for ferrari as alonso now!

[Hornet]

I think it's amazing what Ric is doing in RB. First year there, new rules and all, came in and immediately beat his illustrious 4 times champion team mate. I think he adapted really quickly, with the talent to go along of course.

And as Alonso said, he seems to be a thinking driver as well... could be the next Alonso or Schumi, who knows :Hmm

[Senna4Ever]

Seems that Alonso and I have same taste of respecting people ...
He could have played down Ric rule easily but did not ... I'm really glad he has grown in personality the last couple of years to become really really big ...

[Stormy]

Alonso knows how to give respect where is deserved.
Ricciardo is a great driver, knows how to stay cool under pressure, doing very great choises and delivers great maneuvers.
And he is still green so he is going to improve in the next years and become even greater.
About Ricciardo vs Bottas, dont who is better, they are both fantastic, i guess time will show, however i think this guys are the future of F1.

[Kingdom Hearts]

Fernando was one of the very few drivers that went to the RB motorhome to congratulate him after his first win, Fernando is a classy guy, he even said good words about Vettel in SKY.

[Stormy]

Fernando was one of the very few drivers that went to the RB motorhome to congratulate him after his first win, Fernando is a classy guy, he even said good words about Vettel in SKY.
I think Vettel didnt deserved those praises from Alonso, Vettel is horrible, he is getting beaten like a little child from Ricciardo, a great champion doesnt get beaten like that.
And i think Alonso knows that Vettel is a crappy champion, but he wanted to be nice.

[Lesky]

This was a direct comparison to the Vettel battle as well - loved the invisible poke at Vettel :clap

[doublesixes]

SV is a true champion, he beat MW and the rest of the field many years but I agree with my fellow posters that DR would be a great team mate for Fernando, provided Ferrari designs a bran new challenger.

[TonyRizza]

SV is a true champion,

DR is beating him more or less every race, for a 4 time "world champ" its just confirming that he isnt a great champ like everyone has been saying for that past 4 years. Once he jumps in the same car and consistently beats someone like FA, KR or LH then i think he will be a true champ and deserve that title

[F2008]

Alonso is a smart driver, to praise an opponent can only work in his favor, especially when they are racing wheel to wheel in the future. Drivers have to respect each other to race in a clean way.

In a way it is funny to see all the praise given to Ricciardo and Bottas, knowing that Vettel was once just like them, some 6 years ago. People have the tendency to give too much praise in the beginning, usually to be followed by too much criticism.

[FerrariF60]

DR is beating him more or less every race, for a 4 time "world champ" its just confirming that he isnt a great champ like everyone has been saying for that past 4 years. Once he jumps in the same car and consistently beats someone like FA, KR or LH then i think he will be a true champ and deserve that title

...but wasn't he beating WEBBER in the same car throughout all those 4 championships that he won FAIR AND SQUARE.....NO???

oh wait a minute, what am i thinking, WEBBER was always getting the left over parts and his car was always breaking down....LOLOLOL

[Brembo]

...but wasn't he beating WEBBER in the same car throughout all those 4 championships that he won FAIR AND SQUARE.....NO???

oh wait a minute, what am i thinking, WEBBER was always getting the left over parts and his car was always breaking down....LOLOLOL

Your right on the money here! I remember the nose job RB did on Webbers car. Vettel needed a quick fix. Ricciardo is a great driver and RB is letting him do his thing. I always thought of Vettel as Shumy Jr. with Red Bill. But lucky for Ricciardo he's not being "Rubenized at all! "

[Ed Harley]

Ferrari F1 dream ‘just a cliche’ – Ricciardo

http://www.inautonews.com/ferrari-f1-dream-just-a-cliche-ricciardo#.U9ChoPmSx8E

[Lesky]

Once he jumps in the same car and consistently beats someone like FA, KR or LH then i think he will be a true champ and deserve that title

Once Alonso and Schumacher jumps in the same car and consistently beats someone like Hamilton, ONLY then can they truly be considered great champs, not before that?

Why even mention Raikkonen btw? He is nothing special, not beating Massa who have lost to every teammate he has had, except for Raikkonen.

[ARUN M KARUNAN]

Ric is a great driver.i want him to be future driver in ferrari after alonsa era

[Rishu]

Massa who have lost to every teammate he has had, except for Raikkonen.

Are you sure about that?

[Lesky]

Are you sure about that?

I am sure he beat someone like 10 years ago, or else would not be in Formula 1 I guess ;-)

To Felipes defense, Alonso and Schumacher are probably with Hamilton the fastest drivers during the last 10 years. (Hamilton being the X factor here since he tied Alonso in his rookie season)

[TonyRizza]

Once Alonso and Schumacher jumps in the same car and consistently beats someone like Hamilton, ONLY then can they truly be considered great champs, not before that?

Why even mention Raikkonen btw? He is nothing special, not beating Massa who have lost to every teammate he has had, except for Raikkonen.

maybe not KR but alonso and lh were even but from what ive seen these past few years alonso has improved, there were many great drivers in the schumi era aswell

[Brar]

Seems that Alonso and I have same taste of respecting people ...
He could have played down Ric rule easily but did not ... I'm really glad he has grown in personality the last couple of years to become really really big ...

He is not praising DR but insulting Vettel. Alonso is too smart and only praises people at the expense of others. Remember him and Lewis love poems to one anther when Vettel was on his way to 4 WDC?

[Lesky]

He is not praising DR but insulting Vettel. Alonso is too smart and only praises people at the expense of others. Remember him and Lewis love poems to one anther when Vettel was on his way to 4 WDC?

:lol

I do remember them and found them hilarious!