Domenicali: Fernando best, Vettel very close
12 January, 2012
Fernando Alonso on the slopes of Madonna di Campiglio
Jan.12 (Ferrari) Another day of relaxation on the slopes, tackled with skis and on foot, or at the wheel of an FF in the case of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. However, the two Scuderia Ferrari drivers were on everyone’s lips during Stefano Domenicali’s press conference.
Stefano Domenicali with Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso
“Fernando has had two extraordinary years with us, coming within a whisker of the title in 2010 and improving also last year when despite having a less competitive car, he managed to maintain a very high standard in terms of performance,” said Stefano. “I was very impressed by the way he lived his life with the team: he is a person who can really motivate others and he can often be found in the factory, working with the engineers.
“I can honestly say that, in over 20 years at Maranello, I have never seen anyone spend so much time here with the team as he has done. Particularly, I believe Fernando has shown a great confidence in us at a time that was far from easy when, in the first part of last year, he decided to tie himself to us for many years. This meant a lot for all of us and it was a very strong show of faith, which was a great motivation to each and every one of us. Who is better, Fernando or Vettel? Sebastian had an amazing season, both in qualifying and the race, being able to count on having a car that was equally extraordinary. However, I believe Fernando is the best, although the German comes very close.”
“In Felipe, I saw someone reacting at his best, especially when he found himself under pressure,” continued Domenicali. “I am well aware that this is a decisive season for him and we need to have him on his best form, for the good of the Scuderia, but I don’t think this situation could be a problem for his relationship with the team. I don’t think he suffers because he has alongside him a driver of the talent and personality of Fernando: rather, this must be an opportunity for him to improve still further: at the age of 31, which he will reach in a few months, everything is still possible for him. Now we must think about one thing only, having a good start to the season and then later on in the year, we can begin to think about the future.”
Related posts:
- Domenicali: Santa knows what to bring for me
- Domenicali: Clearly we are not pleased
- Domenicali tips Hamilton for Ferrari switch
- Montezemolo: Domenicali has all my support
- Domenicali on Alonso, Massa and the future
Wow Butterfly, you really know what you’re talking about.
I guess Button being able to get such good results last year speaks volumes about the McLaren car: good aero, grip, balance, the works.
If you guys knew a thing or two about driving styles then you wold know that drivers are separated into groups:
Tier 1: Alonso, Hamilton Kubica – the car must have four wheels.
Tier 2: Vettel, Raikkonnen, Massa, Schumacher, Rosberg – the car must have a planted front-end and must oversteer. Anything less than that yields trouble like Schumacher had in 2010.
Tier 3: Button – the car must be perfectly-balanced. Anything less than that will make Button complain.
Tier 4: Everybody else.
Now, the guys in Tier 1 are the cream of the crop and, on average, can wipe the floor with the guys in lower levels since they can overcome a car’s deficiencies, such as balance, grip, whatever you can think of.
That is why, ladies and gentlemen, Vettel is no better than Massa or Schumacher, or why Massa was able to match Schumacher and Raikkonnen – it’s because they have the same driving style.
That is also why Kubica would trouble someone like Alonso or Hamilton, or why Hamilton was able to get close to Alonso at times.
For those who think I am making this up, there is a video on YouTube where Martin Brundle compares a few of these guys.
@fools:
Hamilton won 3 races compared to Alonso’s single win in last year’s championship. That’s two more than Alonso, even though Hamilton also has to race against his team mate.
Plus Alsonso didn’t have a rival being told to “ruin” his race!
Hamilton is a winner.
First off…Hamilton is not better then Alonso. Period! Slap yourself!
Stefano stop wanking about Felipe, also for you it is a decisive year! And the best is still Schumi you doosh! And the next (after Michael) to get in the row with Juan Manuel, Jim, Gilles and Ayrton will be Sebastian. What he showed in the Torro Rosso, I hadn’t seen something like this since Ayrton in the Toleman when he was robbed from victory by the french FISA in Monaco. (They even robbed a title from him, so that’s why Prost isn’t in the row above, because for me Senna has 4 and Prost 3. Just like Hamilton has zero in my eyes and Felipe 1, that’s why Flavio will never be at Ferrari they’ll loose to many tifosi)
Bullshit, like Seb drove this year he would even have been champion in a Ferrari or Mclaren with less points on Jenson. It was not only the Red Bull that did the job. At the race of champions he was easily 1 to 1,5 seconds quicker in the buggy’s. When he goes to Ferrari he will be champ in his first year just like Kimi did. And that all thx to the 11 years of hard work by Michael and the scuderia. And that’s the only thing I find positive on Fernando that he respects Schumi and that he acknowedges his hard work.
I did have a laugh when I seen this. Even if it’s true, every time Vettel gets in an F1 car he gets better and better.
But then we also know that Hamilton is better than Alonso.
Real day of relaxation.
Alonso is the best, but is the Problem in the Ferrari F1 car.
or
opposite
What is the logic.
Vettel is worse and Red Bull is better
or
Vettel is better and Red bull is worse
or
Ferrari is better and Red Bull is worse
and
Alonso is better
and
Vettel is worse
or