Alonso: Schumacher to be toughest 2011 rival
13 January, 2011
Fernando Alonso at Wrooom media event
Jan.13 (PVM) Fernando Alonso believes that Michael Schumacher will find the pace that eluded him in his comeback season last year and will be the Spaniard’s biggest threat for the 2011 Formula 1 world championship crown.
Fernando Alonso rates Michael Schumacher as his biggest rival for 2011
Alonso, who took centre stage at Madonna di Campiglio Wrooom media event, caught the media hordes by surprise when he stated, “There will be five world champions on the track and the most dangerous champion for me is always Michael. Now in January if I have to choose one name I have to say Michael. He is seven-times champion. He has nothing to prove. He had a difficult season but he is still a champion. He is still super class and if the car is right he will be a contender.”
The two times world champion, who finished second in the title race in his first year in the employ of the Maranello squad, also rates reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel as a force for 2011.
Alonso vs Schumacher in 2006
He said, “No doubt Sebastian will be a contender. He will have experience and will be calm in certain moments. He will drive better than last year and that makes him dangerous to us. McLaren will also be one of the favourites.”
But added, “Hopefully our car is better than the others and my toughest rival next year is Felipe.”
Commenting on the extended 20 race clanedar for this season Alonso said, “I like 20 races, I like racing, competing so to have more races is welcome,” he smiled. “But I also like testing so I’d like 20 races and more testing. It’s not easy and it’s unfair for new drivers that they cannot test more.”
Related posts:
- Alonso: Not afraid of Vettel joining Ferrari
- Alonso: Not quick enough to fight Red Bulls
- Why Alonso can still win the 2010 F1 title
- Alonso: Schumacher is a serious competitor
- Rival drivers not discounting Schumacher
Alonso said: … »and the most dangerous champion for me is always Michael »…
was he referring to Hungary 2010 version Rubens B.?
or as CDM’s contender?
Michael Carmichael…..Alonso said that Schumacher is the most dangerous for him…… It seems that Fernando surely suffers from a short memory, but I can understand why he would like to forget what Lewis as a rookie did to him in 2007, and as his teammate driving the same car.
As jjpm said “Fernando is was at his top, Michael was burned-out”… That goes to show how (dangerous) much of a contender Schumi is after a long re-charge and a huge critic dishonoring him!!!
Now even Lewis should say the same words Fernando said. Given a good car…
…”Alonso is the only driver to beat Schumacher and Ferrari when they were at the very peak of their form.”… Fernando was at his top, Michael was burned-out…
I think Fernando was underrating all the others guys, especially Lewis…
Not funny, Malcolm. Alonso is certainly no clown. Alonso is the only driver to beat Schumacher and Ferrari when they were at the very peak of their form. Fernando’s statement was not arrogant, it was praise for Schumacher.
This clown assumes that he will be #1, even before the season starts.