Ex-Ferrari boss: Alonso is best driver

Eurosport - Wed, 07 Jan 13:40:00 2009

Former Ferrari team boss Cesare Fiorio has claimed that Fernando Alonso is a better driver than Lewis Hamilton.

FORMULA 1 2008 Fernando Alonso Renault - 0

"In situations like this [with the raft of new technical and aerodynamic regulations for 2009], a team can gain an advantage over another because its engineers have had a hunch that turns out to work better," the 69-year-old reasoned. "In that context I have no doubts - I would prefer to have Alonso in my team, because for me he is still the best driver around."

Fiorio, the man who gave Alonso his F1 test debut with Minardi in 1999, added that an Alonso-Ferrari combination would give the entire field cause for concern.

"He is stronger even than Lewis Hamilton; the two are equal in terms of raw speed, but Fernando has a lower propensity to make mistakes. He's consistent, has a good rhythm inside the car and he's intelligent.

"He and Ferrari would represent an exceptional duo. In winning the constructors' world championship, Maranello showed that it had worked the best, both in the factory and at the races - but if you miss out on the drivers' title, perhaps the fault for that lies with the man in the cockpit."

Former F1 team owner Giancarlo Minardi echoed Fiorio's comments.

"It's undeniable that for Ferrari such a driver would be very useful.

"At the end of the day, he's the driver who up until now has given Hamilton the hardest time in equal equipment. He could beat him easily."

Crash.net / Eurosport

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  1. I personally think Massa is better than Alonso. Again­ based on the last two seasons who were the two fighting­ for the Championship. How many podium 1st place­ finishes did Alonso, Massa and Hamilton have? do the­ math, Yes Alonso is a darn good driver but Massa and­ Hamilton has proven themselves to be the best. Lets not­ blame the cars and the team. Look at the overall­ picture.

    From David C, on Fri 9 Jan 12:10PM

  2. looking at the overall picture, two be on the podium as­ much as he has been in two years thats an­ accomplishment by it self. Not to mention at that young­ age. Not to mention facing the racial barriers. The­ young man is good at what he does, Go Lewis Hamilton­ Great Job! see you on the podium next season 2009. He­ is force to be delt with. having great fans and all­ the support from his team, family and friends he will­ do it again. Lewis Hamilton 2008 F1 Champion !

    From David C, on Fri 9 Jan 12:04PM

  3. Now all this talk about Lewis Hamilton not ever going­ to win another championship and Alonso being better.­ Alonso is a very good driver, obviously not in a fast­ enough car, but take a step back he was at on time in a­ faster car, last season with the same Lewis as his­ partner and failed to out drive Lewis causing the team­ to cheat Lewis out of the points needed to take the­ championship. Which means in two years of F1 Lewis­ would have probably won the championship back to back.­ and again he was almost cheated out of this season.­ Give credit where its due Lewis is a darn good driver,­ if not he would have ben in the same basic position two­ years in a row in his first two years of F1

    From David C, on Fri 9 Jan 11:58AM

  4. Go Lewis!!!! woopwoop

    From dom S, on Fri 9 Jan 11:53AM

  5. This guy is just playing politics coz Alonso is­ Ferrari's prime target.

    Who are we kidding?­ Hamilton beat the 2-time defending champ in his rookie­ season when Alonso was the number 1 driver for most of­ the season.

    Cesare Fiorio's off the mark.

    From Poison pill, on Fri 9 Jan 11:51AM

  6. it seems i need to school soe trme wanna be F1 fans yet­ again. Glock was faster on the last lap than his team­ mate Trulli. he was off line - in the wet because his­ car was clearly slower than all the others on wet tyres­ and hard to handle. if he wasnt he would have caused­ an accident. simple.
    Hamilton won the championship­ fair and square. in a car that was slower than the­ ferrari and handicapped by the FIA ruling from last­ seasons scandal...in only his second season. is Alonso­ better?...the stats say no because he couldnt beat his­ rookie team mate in equal machinery with all his­ additional experience. even after he tried to bring­ down the whole team. he excels when the whole team is­ focused on him. when its not, he's not so special. ­ ask Trulli who was faster than him at renault...until­ they dissed him and backed alonso.

    From Christian, on Fri 9 Jan 7:33AM

  7. we all know that alonso is better than silverspoon­ hamilton, you dont need to tell me that

    From pond.simba, on Thu 8 Jan 9:41PM

  8. im a mclaren fan...but i wish we never let go of­ alonso..hamilton wont win any more championships with­ luck..

    From Unknown U, on Thu 8 Jan 9:11PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hi Marnio. Do you watch formula one or Alonso. How long­ have you been watching formula one. Do you kind of know­ that Alonson used to drive for Mclaren and­ couldn't beat Hamilton on his rookie year. It's­ time you went back to school

    From ELIRAMSON, on Thu 8 Jan 9:01PM

  10. mike q, i'm under wraps , but honda on the grid, at­ 3.0 clock today.

    From ELIRAMSON, on Thu 8 Jan 8:23PM

  11. Fernando has had 8 years of experience in F1 (by my­ reckoning), Lewis has had two. Let's review the­ situation in three years' time.

    From Only Human After All, on Thu 8 Jan 7:16PM

  12. Let Alonso go to Ferrari & watch the red sparks fly­ between Alonso & Massa.....can't wait!!!­ LOL

    and watch the Spaniards become Massa Haters. ­ Those people HATE at the drop of a hat...like some of­ the people on this site!!!

    Alsonso's supporters­ have totally disregarded his defense of Glock in­ Brazil, they are not interested in FACTS just HATE!!!

    From ck9morgan, on Thu 8 Jan 5:58PM

  13. REMINDER

    Alonso wanted SUPERIOR treatment NOT EQUAL­ treatment at McLaren - so if they both had equal­ treatment, & Hamilton finished higher than him in­ 2007 (bearing in mind that Alonso is OLDER and MORE­ EXPERIENCED) - then that highlights that Hamilton was­ just as good at the time.

    No question Alonso is a­ great driver, but a BAD sportsman! ...(When things are­ going his way, with NO internal competition WITHIN the­ same team he's GREAT) - it should be interesting to­ see Massa & Alonso as team-mates - I predict they­ will NOT be "MATES" for very long.

    By the­ way - FERRARI had the faster car last year, Hamilton­ had no assistance from his Team Mate, was on the­ receiving-end of a disprapportionate amount of dubious­ Steward's penalties, yet he still became WORLD­ CHAMPION & has yet to peak. Even Alonso said he­ deserved the title, so all those "Alonso­ supporters, who hate Hamilton" look STUPID when­ their own hero goes on record for Live TV making that­ statement, as well as stopping in his tracks to shake­ Hamilton's hand in congratulation. LOL!!!!

    From ck9morgan, on Thu 8 Jan 5:43PM

  14. It's undeniable that for Ferrari such a driver­ would be very useful.

    "At the end of the day,­ he's the driver who up until now has given Hamilton­ the hardest time in equal equipment. He could beat him­ easily."

    But he didnt beat him, that's a­ fact. Almost doent count when it comes to challange.

    From Bernardo, on Thu 8 Jan 4:51PM

  15. mejenner: be a dear and pick up a Diet Pepsi and a bag­ of onion Kettle chips for Forza while your at it .

    From slimj, on Thu 8 Jan 4:35PM

  16. mejenner: i'd have a roast beef on a chrysler if it­ ain't too much to ask. Extra horseradish if­ possible.

    From slimj, on Thu 8 Jan 4:26PM

  17. HE LOST ALL RESPECT FROM THE DRIVERS
    Then hes team­ mclaren cheat in stealing top f1 secrets in what was­ the biggest spy scandal in f1 history!!
    They should of­ been banned for long Time but continued and so did mr­ hamiltons son continue bashing other drivers out of way­ in hes strive for the ultimate prize the F1 TITLE..­
    Soon came end of season and with all the bashing and­ stealing secrets from mclaren mr hamiltons son had­ blown it all again..OH NO HES FATHER CRY,,
    OOHHH but­ wait a min ,, suddenly out of nowhere from over the­ horizon,
    NO SURELY IT CAN NOT BE!!! YES ITS HIM DADDY­ ITS HIM DADDY!! cried baby hamilton

    YES YES ITS­ FATHER GLOCK DADDY ITS FATHER GLOCK and the little boys­ dream came true...out of nowhare like an ALIEN arriving­ from Mars,,,faher glock had deliverd the ultimate prize­ to Mr hamiltons son....but the cost was so severve it­ ended forever F1 as we no it.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR CHEATIN­ MCLAREN ... LOVE FATHER GLOCK...CHEAT HAMILTON SON­ CHEAT

    From slimj, on Thu 8 Jan 3:24PM

  18. Just off to Sainsbury's, anyone want anything ?

    From m.e.jenner, on Thu 8 Jan 2:57PM

  19. Hey Daniel, me old fruit (162) all is well !

    From m.e.jenner, on Thu 8 Jan 2:55PM

  20. ah .-

    --

    --* we quite understand the frustration­ abounding

    From fototedlondona4, on Thu 8 Jan 2:50PM
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