Alonso: Toro Rosso better than BMW

Eurosport - Tue, 16 Sep 08:08:00 2008

Former double world champion Fernando Alonso believes that Scuderia Toro Rosso have overtaken BMW-Sauber to become Formula One's third force after Sebastian Vettel's stunning breakthrough triumph in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

2008 Italian GP Renault Alonso - 0

Alonso finished fourth at the weekend, three positions and almost half a minute adrift of Vettel (pictured), F1's new youngest race-winner.

Vettel and team-mate Sebastien Bourdais secured top-six finishes in the Belgian GP at Spa-Francorchamps just a week earlier. That means STR have notched up 16 points in the last two outings, more than any other team save for Ferrari, whose engine has taken much of the credit for the small Faenza-based outfit's astonishing recent upsurge in form.

Alonso - who held the record for both youngest-ever pole-sitter and race-winner in F1 until Vettel stole his thunder - was one of the first drivers to congratulate the German on his sensational triumph and reckons STR has now moved ahead of all teams on performance terms, bar Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes.

"You could tell that sooner or later they were going to be on pole and on the podium," the 27-year-old Renault star told As.

"Right now I see them right behind Ferrari and McLaren."

One team STR certainly has moved ahead of is parent concern Red Bull Racing, leapfrogging the Milton Keynes-based squad into sixth spot in the constructors' rankings by a single marker and - lying 14 points adrift of both Toyota and Renault with four grands prix remaining on the calendar - theoretically in with a chance now of stealing fourth spot before the 2008 season is out.

Despite RBR - with whom Vettel has signed for next year - having struggled of late with its Renault horsepower, the 21-year-old insists he has no regrets about making the switch.

"First of all, no matter what happens, next year I am going to race for Red Bull Racing," he underlined. "I don't see it as a step backwards."

Crash.Net / Eurosport

Comment 48 - 67 of 67

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  1. Children! Children!

    From markrose260@..., on Tue 16 Sep 7:41PM

  2. when do we get confirmation of Hamilton's well deserved penalty ~~ overdue since monday

    From errattic.results, on Tue 16 Sep 2:58PM

  3. well jay the numbers changed ~~~~~ they deleted some of the items between

    From errattic.results, on Tue 16 Sep 2:42PM

  4. Hahaha!
    My mistake.
    I was actually referring to comment 56 and not 57.

    From Jay, on Tue 16 Sep 2:33PM

  5. tttobyjug:Try reading some of the previous comments to yours. You will see that Toro Rosso only use a customer ferrari engine: The rest is Red Bull / Minardi: There are some real cabbages on this site. No wonder you have to tell the idiots 20 times before it starts to sink in: Frigging @#$% or what.

    From Tonka, on Tue 16 Sep 2:01PM

  6. *me neither jay

    From donbandit11, on Tue 16 Sep 2:00PM

  7. me either jay

    From donbandit11, on Tue 16 Sep 2:00PM

  8. It was only 2 weeks ago that certain people on this site were saying that only the production teams were any use, all the rest might as well pack up & quit. The likes of Force India etc. Last Sunday Vettel shot them up the rear!!!! Good for him..

    From Tonka, on Tue 16 Sep 1:53PM

  9. Does anybody understand comment 57, cos i sure as hell don't!
    Alonso a born loser....?
    Last time i checked he won back-to-back titles, beating the 'great' Michael Shumacher to both of them!
    Some loser!

    From Jay, on Tue 16 Sep 1:37PM

  10. how much does alonso want to drive for Ferrari? the latest comment about Tora Rossa being better than BMW, is so laughable. yes the result at Monza was great for what was and is basically the Minardi team, which is now powered by Ferrari engines. how long this season has Alonso said he wants to drive for Ferrari

    From stoney, on Tue 16 Sep 1:23PM

  11. cherrylr3455 who are you advertising for, a hot date, good luck on this site and you might score, if you are trying to gain the attention of some of the drivers well good luck. Lets see a photo so that we can all see ya.

    D.Bristow

    From d.bristow550, on Tue 16 Sep 1:00PM

  12. alonso whats to just drive and shut he stupid mouth , always got something to say i think he is F1's biggest @#$% . born loser

    From P, on Tue 16 Sep 12:49PM

  13. when are the lazy overpaid administrators planning to confirm dear Hamilton's -well -desereved penalty

    From tttobyjug, on Tue 16 Sep 12:30PM

  14. dont forget Torro Rosso is FERRARI -car-engine-chassis --- good luck to them

    From tttobyjug, on Tue 16 Sep 12:26PM

  15. I hope Alonso does find a ride at BMW or even better Ferrari. I'm so tired of hearing about how the only reason he isn't champion is due to a poor car, and the only reason Lewis is doing so well is because he is in a great car. There's no doubt in my mind he's a fantastic, well rounded F1 driver. I'd just like to see the real challenge come to reality. It couldn't really be decided at McLaren since both finished for, nearly all intents and purposes, even. Lewis had more podiums, but Fernando finished more races in the points, and points were a dead heat. The only other factors that stand out is that Fernando was a proven champion and Lewis was a rookie. For me that gives the edge to Lewis, but thats just me. Do us all a favor Ferrari and sign the man in 2010. 20 years later the spirited and furious battle between Prost and Senna is relived through Alonso and Hamilton. Anybody?

    From vinnydawg67, on Tue 16 Sep 12:19PM

  16. Totally disagree although there have been improvements. Lets not forget that Monza is an 'engine' circuit. I feel BMW are still third, it's just that they're maybe not as strong as some other teams in the wet.

    From Jay, on Tue 16 Sep 12:03PM

  17. Its Bloody Alonso who said it .not Hamilton This post has nothing to do with lewis so can't you keep him out it

    From Justdis, on Tue 16 Sep 10:57AM

  18. vinnydawg67. . . good work son.

    errr... Alonso yeah.... I still cant believe any one listens to this guy... i wish he would mind his own and remain concerned at how or why exactly he now sees both BMW and Torro ROSSO as better teams than his own.

    As a mclaren fan, I am just greatful that there is no room for this guy in the ferraris... a) he can rot where he is now... mid pack b) alonso would ruin ferrari as a team,he is nothing more than a spoilt child. . . . As collective F1 fans the rivalry between ferrari and mclaren needs to be preserved. and without Alonso, this can happen

    From donbandit11, on Tue 16 Sep 10:57AM

  19. raven your a one giant numb nuts

    From Justdis, on Tue 16 Sep 10:46AM

  20. No TED LONDON Toro Rosso is NOT a Ferrari engine, car and chassis. It is customer Ferrari engine in the back of the Red Bull Chassis maintained and run by essentially ex minardi staff.

    From wolfy, on Tue 16 Sep 10:31AM
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