Schu was the greatest says Alonso
FERNANDO ALONSO hailed Michael Schumacher as the greatest rival of his career.
Alonso will start his 312th and final grand prix in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.
The 37-year-old has enjoyed some epic tussles with racers like Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel during his 18 seasons in Formula One.
But Alonso, who claimed back-to-back drivers’ championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006, rates taking on and beating Schumacher as his biggest from PHILIP DUNCAN in Abu Dhabi achievement. He said: “If I have to say who my greatest rival was, it will be Michael.
“When I was go-karting, Michael was winning. When I was in the junior categories, Michael was winning.
“When I got to Formula One, Michael was dominating. Then I found myself fighting wheel to wheel with him. Those battles were special, and emotional.”
Alonso fell out with Hamilton during a fractious year at McLaren and a move back to Renault followed. He then had five seasons at Ferrari, finishing second in the title race three times.
But a second woeful spell at McLaren means he will retire without a victory in more than five years and without a podium finish in more than four.
Asked if a competitive drive could tempt him back, Alonso replied: “It is difficult to think about coming back, but the door is not closed.
“There are negative aspects to Formula One. If you are here for 18 seasons, you have to dedicate your entire life to it.
“You have no friends, no family, no free time, no privacy, no wife, no kids, no nothing – just full dedication if you want to succeed.”
Alonso was 13th in second practice yesterday, with the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas setting the pace.
The Finn finished four hundredths of a second ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with Daniel Ricciardo third and world champion Hamilton in fourth.