Alonso: Not in F1 to make friends

[steelstallions]

http://www.planet-f1.com/news/3213/6...o-make-friends

Fernando Alonso is not in Formula One to win friends. Rather, the Spaniard says he's here to win World titles.

Alonso has at times found himself at the centre of controversy, especially during his year at McLaren in 2007.

And even though it is now four years later, fresh allegations were recently made when Tom Bowers' published a biography about Bernie Ecclestone.

In the biography, Bowers' claims that Alonso asked his then McLaren team boss Ron Dennis to sabotage team-mate Lewis Hamilton's car ahead of the Hungarian GP.

And although we may never know whether the allegations are true or not, Alonso admits he's not in F1 to find friends.

The Ferrari driver told Spanish newspaper Marca that his goal in F1 is to "see if I win enough to be remembered", adding that he's "not racing to make friends but to win."

Well, win us titles and you make friends whether you like it or not

[Hermann]

Kubica is Fernando's friend, as close as it can get to a friendship in F1, but they have known each other from carting already so maybe thats different.

Typical P-F1 blabbering no article about Fernando without 'mentioning' crap from other blabbering articles.

[Alonsomaniac]

".........Rather, the Spaniard says he's here to win World titles......."

Isn't that exactly what Ferrari is paying him for?

[Hermann]

".........Rather, the Spaniard says he's here to win World titles......."

Isn't that exactly what Ferrari is paying him for?

Maybe the editor thinks that making friends should be the first priority in F1.

[scuderiafan]

Maybe the editor thinks that making friends should be the first priority in F1.

I though the priority was whatever McLaren said. Like they are 'radical', which means every team has to strive to be radical.

And whatever Lewis says.

[Sianellen]

They are all there to win lol

[racingbradley]

They are all there to win lol

Agree not much point of being there otherwise.

[Kingdom Hearts]

You are wrong guys, Hamilton is in F1 to make friends, a lot of friends

[vcs316]

Here is the original article

Alonso happy with long life at Ferrari

2011 is the two-time world champion's tenth season in formula one, but only his second with the famous Maranello based team.

"I expected a team of legend and magic and it has been a pleasant surprise, even better than I expected," the 29-year-old told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

Asked how long he might stay in F1 and with Ferrari, Alonso answered: "I am in no hurry to go; here, I even enjoy finishing second, eighth and twenty third."

It has been suggested in the past, however, that Alonso does not completely enjoy F1 overall because it is not a pure sport.

"It's not just racing; F1 is also very much business and with other interests," he agrees.

"It's not a competition, pure and simple. Cars are not equal, the rules are not equal for all. But we know this and accept it because this is perhaps some of the charm of formula one," added Alonso.

Asked about the cars he has driven since debuting in 2001, he said the 2009 Renault was "the worst but I managed a podium in Singapore".

And with the same team, he said 2004 and 2005 were the most enjoyable cars.

"There was the war with the Bridgestone and Michelin tyres that made us a couple of seconds faster, already with 900 horse power," he explained.

"Even with the inferior aerodynamics that we had six years ago compared to today, in Cheste (Valencia) we were doing 1m08, compared to 1m14 now -- six seconds different. Those cars are hard to beat," said the Ferrari driver.

Alonso revealed that when his F1 career began with Minardi ten years ago, he also had the option of going to Ferrari-powered Prost.

"The offer was to go there (Prost) and then maybe be a Ferrari tester, or maybe not and I'll have to return to F3000," he explained.

"It did not guarantee anything, while Renault were giving me a better opportunity," added Alonso, who indeed became Renault's test driver in 2002 before racing with the team in 2003.

Alonso also reinforced his view that he is in F1 only to win.

"I'm not racing to make friends but to achieve many titles. Let's see if I win enough to be remembered.

"If not, I will also retire very happy, proud of the experience," he added.

Link - http://formula-1.updatesport.com/new...rari/view.html

[Tifosi]

I though the priority was whatever McLaren said. Like they are 'radical', which means every team has to strive to be radical.

And whatever Lewis says.

in that case the priority is to sit in the garage and not test the tyres in case it wears 'em out!

[zeus2]

"And although we may never know whether the allegations are true or not, Alonso admits he's not in F1 to find friends."

The first part has no relation whatsoever to the second part, but mention them both in the same sentence and you get an Alonso that comes off as a total arrogant prat replying to an accusation of sabotage. Brilliant! Another P-F1 masterpiece in journalistic garbage (If you can even call it journalism that is).

[Ant Raikkonen]

Happy 10 years in F1 to FA. A top driver and i love that attitude of not being in the sport to make friends. I love his grit, determination, calculation and racecraft and i was exited about him coming to Ferrari, despite it being at Kimi's expense.
He's The best driver out there imo with Kubica 2nd and SV 3rd.
I do hope RK makes a full recovery and returns to F1 as i think he's real special and i love his style & demeanor. I hope both him and SV make their way to Maranello one day.

[Hermann]

The original interview has been published on Marca:

http://www.marca.com/blogs/elgrancir...igos-sino.html

[siberianlady]

If Fernando was driving around in an HRT no-one would even bother with what he says and how he says it. Prat press are only interested BECAUSE he is a star and they need a villain........uff!