Alonso's Blog: I’m still enjoying it!

[Jose Lorca]

What a great feeling, winning again! And I’m revelling in it all the more now I’m back home in Oviedo. When a Grand Prix is over, there is a rush of emotion, but then there are so many things to do, what with press conferences and the debrief, so you have to stay very focussed. But the following morning, you wake up happy and there’s a truly special feeling that goes with it. And I have to say I’m still feeling that way now!

I haven’t spent too much time thinking about the technical reasons behind the win in the British Grand Prix. Each race has its own story and we know only too well how much things can change when you go from one track to another. There were definitely some major improvements on the car, which mean it feels much easier to drive now and you can feel it much more stuck to the ground than before, especially in the fast corners. That means it’s got more aerodynamic downforce, which was the area where we trailed our main rivals the most. However, I don’t think the changes to the engine mapping were a factor: we were quicker specifically at the part of the track where you practically don’t have to brake, which means it is the actual car that is going well.

This win won’t change our approach to the coming races. We have to be realistic, because we are 92 points behind in the classification and that is a very big gap! We will tackle the races one at a time, trying to win as many as possible. This will also involve taking a few more risks and maybe it will happen that we pay a high price for that, but there is no alternative. We are definitely not giving up, but we must not think about the championship: as Montezemolo said yesterday in Maranello, we are keeping our feet on the ground.

On Sunday morning, I had great fun doing a couple of laps in the 375 F1 which brought Ferrari its first championship Grand Prix win back in 1951. I had already driven a very similar car, the 375 Indy, in Valencia at the Ferrari Days event. It definitely takes a bit of getting used to with a very different pedal arrangement, with the accelerator on the left and the brake on the right. The engine power to tyre grip ratio is the complete opposite of the cars we drive today. You need to change your driving style to go quickly, but it was a wonderful experience. Sure, back then, not only did the drivers need to be incredibly talented, but they also needed a good dose of craziness!

There was a special atmosphere at Silverstone on Sunday. The crowd is always very big there and they are all very involved in the event. For us it felt different and I can’t explain why: maybe it was because we wanted to do well on this important anniversary in our history. Ever since I have been with Ferrari, there have often been unusual coincidences between my wins and special moments. For example, on my debut in red in Bahrain last year, or the first time I raced for the Scuderia at Monza. Now this win has come, sixty years after Gonzalez took the victory. I hope there will be many more moments like this!

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Scude...joying-it.aspx

A nice blog from Alonso. I highlighted the point which I found most interesting.

I noticed in the first few races Alonso seemed quite cautious, which was most evident at the starts, where his aim in turn one seemed to be avoiding contact rather than racing his peer. Further proof came from his outlaps, which he took very easy. When people speak of aggressive drivers, Hamilton immediately comes to mind and Alonso not so much anymore. He can still be aggressive as we've seen at times this year, but he's also intelligent enough to know the right time to show this aggression, and most of the time he no longer risks a collision if a potential overtake is too risky.

Unlike Hamilton who has effectively given up this year, Alonso hasn't let the Vettel domination affect his performance on track. Now he is fully aware of the situation and he knows what he needs to do in order to win the Championship. He said prior to this that he would not think too much about the current standings but instead focus on the racing. In Alonso we have the best driver on the grid, now prepared to take much bigger risks in a final effort to steal the Championship from Vettel. One collision could end all our hopes instantly, but even taking that into account I am proud to see such a great Champion like Alonso keep fighting to achieve something seemingly impossible.

FORZA!!

[sagi58]

What a great feeling, winning again! And I’m revelling in it all the more now... But the following morning, you wake up happy and there’s a truly special feeling that goes with it. And I have to say I’m still feeling that way now!

Well said, Alonso!!! And, !!!
I'm still in the streets (well, at home, anyway!!)
once again, and... Keep 'em coming!!!

[NanoTheQuickest]

Forza Alonso

[Lithium]

What a great feeling, winning again! And I’m revelling in it all the more now... But the following morning, you wake up happy and there’s a truly special feeling that goes with it. And I have to say I’m still feeling that way now!

So true! I've been re-watching the race 'n' times already, and it feels better every time! Hopefully we have more wins to enjoy soon!
And I agree with Nando about taking risks, we've got nothing to lose now.

[Ant Raikkonen]

Nice read. Thanks for posting. I'm still buzzing from Sunday AND even from the sensational start of the Barcelona GP

[Meiga]

I didn't know where to post this article, and since it talks abou Alonso enjoying himselfwith the 375 I thought theis could be a good place!

http://www.motorsportmagazine.co.uk/...-ferrari-form/
“He had to learn to bump-start it first,” laughed Robert Dean, who cares for Ecclestone’s car collection. “As we pushed-started him on the grid he casually looked over his shoulder and said ‘tell me what to do’. We were shouting ‘clutch! drop the clutch!’ but he got away beautifully. He was great, he followed instructions to the letter, and I don’t think he missed a single gear during his laps. I was very impressed at how easily he got to know the 375, but I did warn him about the brakes and double de-clutching when changing down. I’m not sure he really used the brakes – except once when he was so busy waving to the crowd he ran a bit wide.”
(...)
So what did Signor Alonso think of this experience? “Afterwards, he said he couldn’t believe how powerful the car was, he was smiling like mad, telling Bernie how fantastic the car felt, assessing it like great drivers do,” said Robert. “Mr E loved it too, and said he was trying to persuade Vettel to drive what he calls a ‘proper car’.” Clearly it set Alonso up well for the Grand Prix in the afternoon.

[Mr Alcatraz]

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Scuderia/Blogs/Alonso/archive/2011/07/13/i%E2%80%99m-still-enjoying-it.aspx[/url]

A nice blog from Alonso. I highlighted the point which I found most interesting.

We will tackle the races one at a time, trying to win as many as possible. This will also involve taking a few more risks and maybe it will happen that we pay a high price for that, but there is no alternative. We are definitely not giving up,

That is the element of his greatness that I admire most!
Their is no quit in that freakin' guy

[siberianlady]

Then you folks will love his latest contribution:
from:http://www.ferrari.com/english/scude...f-ferrari.aspx
The German Grand Prix is bang in the middle of the 2011 championship: we have had nine races so far and, after the one at the Nurburgring, we will face the same number again. Some might say that makes it a time to assess what’s gone before, but I prefer not to look too closely at the standings. We had a difficult start, but from a few races ago up until now, we have got back to being competitive. It cannot be denied that we have made progress, up to the point where we have actually taken a fully deserved win on one of the tracks – Silverstone - that on paper was least suited to our car. However, that great victory must not change our approach: we most continue to tackle one race after another, without looking at the classification and then, at the end, we will do the maths. So we head off for Germany in the same spirit we demonstrated in England, but with the additional awareness that we are now more competitive.

After the race across the Channel, I came back to spend a few day relaxing at home. I know we have two very busy weeks ahead of us so I thought it best to recharge the batteries, spending some time with my family and doing some training. From Monday evening, I was in Maranello where I was involved in preparations for the German Grand Prix, which meant a lot of work on the simulator and meetings with the engineers. But in addition, there were also a whole range of activities that see me ever more involved in life at Ferrari. For example, yesterday I took part in a prizegiving ceremony for the top three finalists in a Ferrari World Design Contest: it was very interesting for me to see how much passion these youngsters from all over the world have for their vision of the Ferrari of the future. This morning I was involved in some promotional work, along with two of our partners and then I was invited by President Montezemolo to Podio Ferrari, the event that brings together in Maranello, all the company’s suppliers, both those that work with the Scuderia and those whose relationship is with our colleagues on the road car side. The four prizewinners got the chance to do some laps of the Fiorano track in a 458 Italia: I don’t know if they expected me to be their driver, but I think they enjoyed the experience! Finally, I went to say hello to over four hundred kids, all children of the workforce here, who were taking part in the summer camp organised by the company. As you can imagine, it meant total immersion in the world of Ferrari and it will continue right up to the end of the month. In fact, already from Sunday night, after the German Grand Prix, I will travel back to Maranello with the team and stay another three days before we all head off together for Budapest. The 7th August marks the start of the factory shut-down established by FOTA, which means we will have to prepare for the Spa race, one of the most interesting of the year, well ahead of time. That’s why I think this will be a very busy time, but I have to say I am really getting to like feeling part of this world.

Now might not be the time to think too much about all that, because as from tomorrow, a race weekend gets underway at the historic venue that is the Nurburgring, where I have already won twice. There’s a saying about something happening twice, but I don’t want to jinx my chances by saying it, so it’s up to the fans to work out what it is!

[TheProdigalSon]

Then you folks will love his latest contribution:
from:http://www.ferrari.com/english/scude...f-ferrari.aspx
The German Grand Prix is bang in the middle of the 2011 championship: we have had nine races so far and, after the one at the Nurburgring, we will face the same number again. Some might say that makes it a time to assess what’s gone before, but I prefer not to look too closely at the standings. We had a difficult start, but from a few races ago up until now, we have got back to being competitive. It cannot be denied that we have made progress, up to the point where we have actually taken a fully deserved win on one of the tracks – Silverstone - that on paper was least suited to our car. However, that great victory must not change our approach: we most continue to tackle one race after another, without looking at the classification and then, at the end, we will do the maths. So we head off for Germany in the same spirit we demonstrated in England, but with the additional awareness that we are now more competitive.

After the race across the Channel, I came back to spend a few day relaxing at home. I know we have two very busy weeks ahead of us so I thought it best to recharge the batteries, spending some time with my family and doing some training. From Monday evening, I was in Maranello where I was involved in preparations for the German Grand Prix, which meant a lot of work on the simulator and meetings with the engineers. But in addition, there were also a whole range of activities that see me ever more involved in life at Ferrari. For example, yesterday I took part in a prizegiving ceremony for the top three finalists in a Ferrari World Design Contest: it was very interesting for me to see how much passion these youngsters from all over the world have for their vision of the Ferrari of the future. This morning I was involved in some promotional work, along with two of our partners and then I was invited by President Montezemolo to Podio Ferrari, the event that brings together in Maranello, all the company’s suppliers, both those that work with the Scuderia and those whose relationship is with our colleagues on the road car side. The four prizewinners got the chance to do some laps of the Fiorano track in a 458 Italia: I don’t know if they expected me to be their driver, but I think they enjoyed the experience! Finally, I went to say hello to over four hundred kids, all children of the workforce here, who were taking part in the summer camp organised by the company. As you can imagine, it meant total immersion in the world of Ferrari and it will continue right up to the end of the month. In fact, already from Sunday night, after the German Grand Prix, I will travel back to Maranello with the team and stay another three days before we all head off together for Budapest. The 7th August marks the start of the factory shut-down established by FOTA, which means we will have to prepare for the Spa race, one of the most interesting of the year, well ahead of time. That’s why I think this will be a very busy time, but I have to say I am really getting to like feeling part of this world.

Now might not be the time to think too much about all that, because as from tomorrow, a race weekend gets underway at the historic venue that is the Nurburgring, where I have already won twice. There’s a saying about something happening twice, but I don’t want to jinx my chances by saying it, so it’s up to the fans to work out what it is!

Fingers crossed for another victory!

[sagi58]

Doesn't sound like he's complaining about PR work, does it?
Unlike some drivers, who shall remain nameless.

[FerrariF60]

who might that be, KIMI???

[sagi58]

Kimi is not nameless...

I'm referring to a specific current driver on the grid who needed time off
because he was oh, so tired from rubbing elbows, smiling and getting his
picture taken with fans, who "indirectly" pay his wages!!

[NJB13]

Kimi is not nameless...

I'm referring to a specific current driver on the grid who needed time off
because he was oh, so tired from rubbing elbows, smiling and getting his
picture taken with fans, who "indirectly" pay his wages!!

Let's just call him Mr "X", or perhaps we could call him Mr "H", or perhaps Mr "LH"

[Hermann]

Let's just call him Mr "X", or perhaps we could call him Mr "H", or perhaps Mr "LH"

The Master of Late Breaking, Mr. 15-podiums....

[sagi58]

Let's just call him Mr "X", or perhaps we could call him Mr "H", or perhaps Mr "LH"

Or we can call him Mr. Big(head)??:angel

[EL NANO]

Hello guys so good to feel the positive vibe here again, when there is rain for so long the sun feels good on our faces finally and I hope we get sunburned from now on ...

[siberianlady]

The Master of Late Breaking, Mr. 15-podiums....

We just call him Kater (since he's now engaged to the Mietzekatze.......)