FERNANDO FIRED UP
I’m one of the best ever
FERNANDO ALONSO claims he is one of the finest drivers of all time.
Alonso, 37 next month, will become only the fourth driver in history to reach the 300 grand prix milestone in Canada tomorrow.
And the Spaniard’s in no doubt where he ranks in the history of the sport.
“I am one of the best to have raced in F1,” he said. “I am probably not the fastest driver in qualifying. I’m probably not the fastest driver in the race, or in wet conditions, but I am a 9.5 in all areas, and I try to benefit from that.”
Alonso is certainly viewed as the greatest of his generation, but it has been more than five years since he won a race, while he toasted the last of his two successive titles in 2006.
And his career remains a case of what might have been after a catalogue of rows and ill-advised team switches.
“There are some opportunities missing,” added Alonso. “I could have won four or five championships, but at the
from JAMES MURRAY in Montreal same time, I feel extremely privileged to have had 18 years in F1.
“I have a lot of good memories. There have been a lot of ups and downs, but winning my two championships was definitely the high point.”
Alonso will contest the Le Mans 24 Hours race next weekend, having already branched out last year by racing in the Indy 500.
Dream
But he insists he has not fallen out of love with F1, despite complaining about its predictability.
“No, I’m not bored,” said Alonso, who will decide later this summer whether to extend his £20m-a-year contract with McLaren into another campaign.
“It’s obviously the top series in motorsport, and it’s where we all dream to come, but it’s true that in the last years it is so predictable.
“This is race seven – there are 21 races – and we all know what is going to happen.
“You can play basketball and have a magic night and score 80 points with your team-mates and win the game.
“There are favourites for the World Cup, but you can’t guarantee Germany, Spain or Brazil will win.
“But here everyone can guarantee that Mercedes or Ferrari will win the race, and this is very sad for the sport.”
Red Bull might have something to say about that, with Max Verstappen fastest in both practice sessions in Montreal, suggesting the updates to their Renault engines are working.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was second in the morning session but dropped to fourth in the afternoon.