Unfair criticism towards Fernando Alonso
Winning in Formula One is impressive, but winning on your debut for Ferrari is even more impressive. That is what Fernando Alonso did in the opening race of the 2010 season in Bahrain. Wearing the famous overalls of the most successful team in Formula One, Alonso signalled his championship credentials by leading his teammate Felipe Massa to a one-two finish.
He currently lies third in the drivers’ standings, three points behind co-leaders Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.
Since Bahrain, Alonso has been unfairly criticised for his recent performances. Following the race victory, he was hit in Australia in turn one by Jenson Button - with his car pointing the wrong way - and had to fight his way through the grid to salvage fourth.
In Malaysia, he worked his way up from starting at the back of the grid after he and several other big names misjudged the rain in qualifying. Alonso was also suffering with a gearbox issue. He didn’t pick up any points as a few laps before the end his engine blew up.
At the Chinese Grand Prix, he jumped the start of the race and had to serve a drive-through penalty. Also, he cheekily overtook Massa in a dangerous manoeuvre in the pit lane entrance and forced the Brazilian off the track. Alonso incurred the wrath of the paddock from this move on his teammate. The Spaniard was unfazed by the criticism and insisted he would do it again. “Certainly, without any doubt. If the other car would have been green or grey, we'd all be celebrating this, but instead we're just losing time with polemics, where there is nothing to say,” said Alonso.
After the race, both Ferrari drivers hit out at reports that claimed there was a rift between the two following the manoeuvre. Once again, Alonso came out of the grand prix weekend not having a good race, but managed to salvage fourth.
Entering his home race, the Spanish Grand Prix, he finished an impressive second after Hamilton’s tyre puncture and the brakes of Vettel’s car wearing rapidly.
Having been the fastest driver at the last grand prix in Monaco in both practice sessions, Alonso crashed into the barriers in the final practice session, and he was forced to watch qualifying from the garage, his car unable to be repaired in time as the impact of the crash was so severe.
Alonso admitted that weekend it was his fault. “It was my mistake, but it was also very unlucky. With an impact at 90kph, you don't normally write off a chassis. Unfortunately the angle of impact with the barrier was such that the damage could not be repaired, and the rules don't let you use the spare chassis,” he said.
The double world champion was questioned on the eve of the race over his mistake, and it was an opportunity for the press to criticise his season so far, claiming he was beginning to feel the pressure. “Do I think I've made too many mistakes this year? In Barcelona, where I was maybe under the most pressure, I did my best qualifying lap and had my best race. If, after 10 years in Formula One I still have to prove I do not feel pressure, then it's not worth talking about any more,” said Alonso.
On race day, he started from the pit lane, and on a track where overtaking is virtually impossible, he found a way past the backmarkers and finished a respectable sixth. Alonso’s eventful race went to the final corner, as under the safety car, Michael Schumacher overtook him. Alonso was restored to sixth position after Schumacher received a penalty, as it was an illegal overtake by the German. Alonso delivered the best he could and silenced his critics.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has defended his driver this week, saying he has “no regrets” over the decision to bring Alonso to Ferrari. There have been suggestions that the Scuderia should have given the returning Schumacher- who won five world championships in a row for the prancing horse - his old seat back, but Di Montezemolo insists Alonso is the right man. “It was good with Michael but it's over. Today I'm very happy with Alonso, both on and off the track. Alonso has team spirit, conscientiousness, attachment to the team. And when he races he's a fantastic fighter,” he said.
Di Montezemolo believes the crash at Monaco was the only down point to Alonso’s season so far. “I consider a mistake only what happened at Monte Carlo, due to excessive confidence. He wanted to test the limit while thinking of pole, and he crashed. The jump start in China was down to the tension. But we are in a great position for the championship. The game is on,” he said.
If you take into consideration everything that has happened to Alonso in the six races this season, along with the Red Bulls’ (top of both drivers’ and constructors’ championships) remarkable race pace, the Spaniard would be secretly pleased with the way it has all panned out for him.
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