Briatore: "Alonso is the best driver in the last 20 years"

[Rob]

(MODs, was not sure to put this in the Vettel better than Fernando thread, if feel should go in there, then please move, grazie)

The former chief of the Asturian notes that "his vision of the race is spectacular."

The former sporting director of Renault , Flavio Briatore, said Fernando Alonso "is the best driver of the past 20 years," in an interview with satellite channel 'Sky Sport 24'. "Schumacher is over, but we are talking about very high levels and the differences are minimal, but make very few mistakes Fernando, even under pressure, and his view of the race is spectacular," said Briatore, Alonso who agreed with his time at Renault .

"When you're ahead, winning races at 90 percent, although the car is not as competitive"
According to the Italian, "sometimes the team can make mistakes in strategy and he gets them back, but when he's ahead, winning races at 90 percent, although the car is not as competitive. Lives and breathes racing use only".

Beware McLaren
on the current Formula 1 World, the former director of Renault considered that it is not true that Red Bull is low hours and titrated to Lotus and Sauber, "proof that money does not make a difference." And McLaren said "if you can be strong again take many points to Alonso." "Ferrari has to improve the car and Alonso must win at least one Grand Prix without McLaren comes second. Many points, but if you do not come first or second you are left with the crumbs," he added.

On the suspension for the French Grand Prix Romain Grosjean after the accident in Belgium, in which he was involved Alonso, Briatore approved the decision of the International Automobile Federation (FIA). "Grosjean used the car as his own, has they begin to respect the work of the people because it causes many accidents, "he said.

http://www.marca.com/2012/09/17/moto...347881000.html

[Rishu]

Whilst Fernando has been driving at a very, very high level, I just cannot overlook Prost & Schumacher.
I would say, mentally Alonso has been strongest in last 20 years.


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[Hermann]

Whilst Fernando has been driving at a very, very high level, I just cannot overlook Prost & Schumacher.
I would say, mentally Alonso has been strongest in last 20 years.

Try to tell that Macca- fans. They can't decide between 'ran away' and 'was fired'. I always say a driver who survived 2007 at Macca, will survive anything...

Flavio always says nice things about Fernando, mostly because he knows it will make fans of other drivers go berserk.

[dongtea]

Hmmm.... interesting. I always put Senna ahead of anyone else, Fernando is closest to him IMO.. Debatable

[Tobes]

Probably best driver In the past 10yrs, think 20yrs is a bit of a stretch...

As much as Alonso is clearly better than Schumacher now, not convinced he's better now than Schumacher was at his peak, Alonso is still getting better every year, we seem to forget just how good Schumacher was back in the day, maybe in 10yrs from now when Alonso has another 5 or 6 WDC's we'll have a better idea...

[Alonsomaniac]

It has been said before: you simply can't compare drivers from different era's.
Senna was the best, Schumacher was the best and Alonso is the best, but not at the same time.

[Nova]

^Very well put..

[Bonjers]

Schumi was immense, but he had a massive performance advantage over everybody else on the grid and the depth of top quality drivers was not a patch on what it is now.

[Greig]

Probably best driver In the past 10yrs, think 20yrs is a bit of a stretch...

As much as Alonso is clearly better than Schumacher now, not convinced he's better now than Schumacher was at his peak, Alonso is still getting better every year, we seem to forget just how good Schumacher was back in the day, maybe in 10yrs from now when Alonso has another 5 or 6 WDC's we'll have a better idea...

Agreed, Alonso v MS at their peak would be a mighty fine battle to watch

[Sianellen]

I think hands down Alonso is the best current driver (It's the reason I never wish him luck before races, he's that good I know he will do well whatever circumstance he finds himself in.) and has been for the last few years but at his peak Schumacher was something else, frustratingly unbeatable. Unless they had faced each other at their peaks I think it's impossible to say which one is the best. I'm gutted it's something that we don't get the chance to see.

[F2008]

I agree with Alonsomaniac. Nevertheless I would put Alonso in front because he seems more fair to other drivers. Same goes for Villeneuve vs Senna.

[killer]

Agreed, Alonso v MS at their peak would be a mighty fine battle to watch

Agreed.

In a weird way, Montoya vs Jacques vs Maldonado won't be bad viewing either.

[vcs316]

Probably best driver In the past 10yrs, think 20yrs is a bit of a stretch...

As much as Alonso is clearly better than Schumacher now, not convinced he's better now than Schumacher was at his peak, Alonso is still getting better every year, we seem to forget just how good Schumacher was back in the day, maybe in 10yrs from now when Alonso has another 5 or 6 WDC's we'll have a better idea...

Absolutely agree. I still remember 2001 - 2004 race weekends when a MS win was given! Everyone was racing for P2 !!

PS: I still believe that given a competitive car MS can still fight for the WDC and whoop the likes of Hamilton & Vettel. Would love to see MS vs Alonso again!!

[dongtea]

Totally agree that MS with his dominant car was clearly unbeatable. But with a lesser car and a competitive drivers around him, dont think he is better than Alonso

[Retroblue]

Totally agree that MS with his dominant car was clearly unbeatable. But with a lesser car and a competitive drivers around him, dont think he is better than Alonso

When MS joined Ferrari we were nowhere near the top,we were probably 3rd fastest team and still he won races and fought for the championship with the car. More than ever he helped in developing the car. If you see MS race victories from 96-2000 you will be astonished as I think you haven't seen it. He made me fall in love with F1. Alonso is another great driver but it is difficult to pick any one between the two.

[dongtea]

Yes I do respect and admire MS a lot. My humble point is that with more competitive drivers and cars around him, I don't think he is better than Fernando, plain and simple.

[Tobes]

Totally agree that MS with his dominant car was clearly unbeatable. But with a lesser car and a competitive drivers around him, dont think he is better than Alonso

With all due respect, did you used to watch F1 in the early to mid 90's...?

Please don't tell me the likes of Senna, Mansell, and co were less competitive drivers, then look at Mika, who in my opinion is one of the most under-rated drivers ever...

It's very easy (and possibly a tad short sighted) to perpetuate the myth that Schumacher had no competition in his 20 odd years in F1, but that simply isn't true, (at least not for his entire career) although to jump on that bandwagon means you don't have to justify your statement, but one could argue that Schumacher had at best equal cars and equally competitive opposition, he was just that good in his prime...

Personally i'd currently rate Schumacher higher than Alonso, but i'm an old git and have a sufficiently good memory to recall some truly exceptional drives...

[Greig]

I would rate MS ahead of Alonso as well, he was a magician at his peak (coming 2nd while stuck in 5th gear for instance), Alonso is very good as well and IMO in much the same mould as Schumacher, maybe not the quickest but has the complete package as well as a very clever racing brain. And both can adapt to most situations or work around a car problem.

As Tobes said maybe in another 5 years we can decide if Alonso was better

[dongtea]

I was a hardcore Senna fan, if I may say so.. And yes I did follow MS's career too Btw, San MArino GP 2005 was an interesting race, don't you think too?

[Greig]

As interesting as the 2006 race don't you think? 2005 was not a good year for Ferrari but MS showed his talents even when he had one hand tied behind his back

[dongtea]

Thats a good one Greig

[red power]

With all due respect, did you used to watch F1 in the early to mid 90's...?

Please don't tell me the likes of Senna, Mansell, and co were less competitive drivers, then look at Mika, who in my opinion is one of the most under-rated drivers ever...

It's very easy (and possibly a tad short sighted) to perpetuate the myth that Schumacher had no competition in his 20 odd years in F1, but that simply isn't true, (at least not for his entire career) although to jump on that bandwagon means you don't have to justify your statement, but one could argue that Schumacher had at best equal cars and equally competitive opposition, he was just that good in his prime...

Personally i'd currently rate Schumacher higher than Alonso, but i'm an old git and have a sufficiently good memory to recall some truly exceptional drives...

Spot on mate. Schumacher the best. But Alonso could get there.

[Ken]

With all due respect, did you used to watch F1 in the early to mid 90's...?

Please don't tell me the likes of Senna, Mansell, and co were less competitive drivers, then look at Mika, who in my opinion is one of the most under-rated drivers ever...

It's very easy (and possibly a tad short sighted) to perpetuate the myth that Schumacher had no competition in his 20 odd years in F1, but that simply isn't true, (at least not for his entire career) although to jump on that bandwagon means you don't have to justify your statement, but one could argue that Schumacher had at best equal cars and equally competitive opposition, he was just that good in his prime...

Personally i'd currently rate Schumacher higher than Alonso, but i'm an old git and have a sufficiently good memory to recall some truly exceptional drives...

This old Git watched F1 avidly.

When Brawn and Schumi came to Ferrari in 1996 they had a 5 year plan to put Ferrari back on top but with Schumi's feed back and Brawns designs the car was on the podium a few times from the get go.

1996 wcc 2nd way beyond expectation
1997 wcc 2nd
1998 wcc 2nd
1999 WCC 1st One year earlier than predicted

Followed by the great years for both Schumi and Ferrari Many records broken by them over the next years untill Schumi retired and Brawn moved on.

If you had watched the races 96-98 you would have seen Schumi's skills wringing everything he could out of the under performing car.

[F2008]

Lots of talk about Schumacher's past but I think it's (equally) impressive how he's is able to keep up with a good driver like Nico Rosberg and actually beating him most of the time, even though he is turning 44 years old in just a few months! It proves what an exceptional driver he is.

[Stormsearcher]

Agreed.

In a weird way, Montoya vs Jacques vs Maldonado won't be bad viewing either.

Throw in Lewis into this and it will be fantastic. The question wont be who wins the race, it will be who survived the race. I vote for JPM.

[Stormsearcher]

Agreed, Alonso v MS at their peak would be a mighty fine battle to watch

Indeed. And i would say that MS would win 6 times on 10 between them. More so because MS is a lot more comfortable bending the rules than fernando is. As f2008 says, FA is a fairer driver of the two.

[killer]

Indeed. And i would say that MS would win 6 times on 10 between them. More so because MS is a lot more comfortable bending the rules than fernando is. As f2008 says, FA is a fairer driver of the two.

I'd say both of them are as ruthless as the other, given the chance. I suppose it's inherent in genius of their caliber.

I feel fortunate in that I saw Michael in his prime and am now witnessing Fernando peaking--both in Ferraris. What's scary is that while most everyone says that Alonso is the best out there now, he is still not at maximum potential. It would be awesome if he does end his career with Ferrari and we get to see him in full completion while he drives for us.

[brembo man]

Senna is the best ever IMO. His tragic accident ended what were to be unbeatable records in F1. After him comes Alonso. Briatory is not just a fan like me ,he knows F1 better than most, good, bad,, and ugly. The ugly being IMO the chin's kill for the sake of killing mentality Need the points or not, let me pass! If he was so great . he could have left that "todt" edge out . If his car, or say his tires IMO wasn't perfect he would get whooped by Alonso twice!! I believe Ferrari and Alonso are the future greats of F!. Throw Massa in there too!

[FFFerrari]

Last 20 years? No. Last 10 years? Perhaps. Currently? Definately.

Of course this coming from Flavios mouth has zero value to me, can't stand the guy.

[anupa2k]

I think hands down Alonso is the best current driver (It's the reason I never wish him luck before races, he's that good I know he will do well whatever circumstance he finds himself in.) and has been for the last few years but at his peak Schumacher was something else, frustratingly unbeatable. Unless they had faced each other at their peaks I think it's impossible to say which one is the best. I'm gutted it's something that we don't get the chance to see.

Then what happened in 2005 and 2006..they both were battling with each other and Fernando came out on top...