Formula One: Fernando Alonso Believes he will be a worthy Champion
The 2 time former world champion Fernando Alonso believes that he will be a worthy champion if he manages to win the F1 world title this year.
However, the Spaniard has his critics, who say that even if he manages to win the title come the end of the season. It will be a tainted win, off course referring to the incident at the German Grand Prix, where Felipe Massa was asked to slow down and give Alonso the lead. Alonso managed to win that race, and on Wednesday, Ferrari was cleared by world motorsport council in a hearing regarding the team orders controversy.
Alonso obviously disagrees with those claims and said that what happened in Germany was fair and within the rules. Back in 2006, Alonso was driving for Renault and was docked 10 points in a race, when in qualifying he had managed the top spot. The race stewards after a complaint from Massa that Alonso had blocked him pushed the Spaniard back 10 places.
The penalty had outraged Alonso and his team, his team boss at the time Flavio Briatore went on to say that, the F1 title was being decided on a table instead of the tracks. In addition, an angry Alonso after the penalty made the remarks ‘it’s no longer a fair sport.’
The critics reminded Alonso of that incident and said that the situation surrounding the team order controversy and the fact that Ferrari got away with it also is a similar situation. Alonso however disagreed and said that there is no similarity in the 2 situations.
The former Renault driver said that he has worked very hard this season to get to where he is, and no controversy can take away the joy of winning the world championship from him if he manages to do so.
When asked by reporters that what does he think makes a champion worthy of his title? Alonso said that as far as he is concerned the one who has the most wins and the most points at the end of the day is the champion and the rest does not matter.
He said this is the way it has been, and there is no doubt in his mind that it will remain this way whether people like it or not. He said it is the same way not just in F1 but in Premier League football, Tennis and other competitions.
Alonso said that in the end, it does not matter how someone got to the championship and what matters is the name on the trophy.
Fernando referred to an incident back in 2008 season, when his current team mate Felipe Massa was on the verge of winning the world championship. Massa had to win the final Grand Prix that was at his home circuit in Brazil, while Hamilton had to finish in top 6 to take the title.
Massa had done his bit and won the race and was almost celebrating along with his father and wife in the pits. That was when Hamilton was suddenly given way by Fishichella on the final turn of the last lap. Hamilton at that point was in 7th position and that would have handed Massa the title. However, a favour by another driver meant that Hamilton ended in the 6th spot, and won his first world title, while Massa was left in tears.
Alonso said that now no one remembers that incident on the final turn in Brazil, and nor do they remember the teary eyed Massa on the Podium that day. All they remember is that Lewis Hamilton became the youngest ever F1 world champion.
The Ferrari driver reiterated that whoever ends up winning the title at the end of the season, would be a worthy winner.
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