News On F1 - Formula 1 News, Results, Information and Statistics

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Teams  Drivers  F1 Tickets  F1 Coverage
 

F1 News - Alonso happy with long life at Ferrari - March, 2011

Mar.4 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has revealed he is more than happy with life at Ferrari.

2011 is the two-time world champion's tenth season in formula one, but only his second with the famous Maranello based team.

"I expected a team of legend and magic and it has been a pleasant surprise, even better than I expected," the 29-year-old told the Spanish sports daily Marca.

Asked how long he might stay in F1 and with Ferrari, Alonso answered: "I am in no hurry to go; here, I even enjoy finishing second, eighth and twenty third."

It has been suggested in the past, however, that Alonso does not completely enjoy F1 overall because it is not a pure sport.

"It's not just racing; F1 is also very much business and with other interests," he agrees.

"It's not a competition, pure and simple. Cars are not equal, the rules are not equal for all. But we know this and accept it because this is perhaps some of the charm of formula one," added Alonso.

Asked about the cars he has driven since debuting in 2001, he said the 2009 Renault was "the worst but I managed a podium in Singapore".

And with the same team, he said 2004 and 2005 were the most enjoyable cars.

"There was the war with the Bridgestone and Michelin tyres that made us a couple of seconds faster, already with 900 horse power," he explained.

"Even with the inferior aerodynamics that we had six years ago compared to today, in Cheste (Valencia) we were doing 1m08, compared to 1m14 now -- six seconds different. Those cars are hard to beat," said the Ferrari driver.

Alonso revealed that when his F1 career began with Minardi ten years ago, he also had the option of going to Ferrari-powered Prost.

"The offer was to go there (Prost) and then maybe be a Ferrari tester, or maybe not and I'll have to return to F3000," he explained.

"It did not guarantee anything, while Renault were giving me a better opportunity," added Alonso, who indeed became Renault's test driver in 2002 before racing with the team in 2003.

Alonso also reinforced his view that he is in F1 only to win.

"I'm not racing to make friends but to achieve many titles. Let's see if I win enough to be remembered.

"If not, I will also retire very happy, proud of the experience," he added.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version
26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali
26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost
26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost
26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch
26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda
26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim
26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde
26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe
25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report
25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report
25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda
25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013
25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa
25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez
25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri
25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick
25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia
25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez
25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton
25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver

The latest F1 News - Mobile Version

F1 News  F1 Schedule  F1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  F1 Tickets  Live F1 Coverage

Full Version: Formula 1 News  Formula 1 Schedule  Formula 1 Line-up  Constructors' Championship  Drivers' Championship  Live F1 Coverage  10 'n' Pole  F1 Regulations  The Forums  Motorsport Shop  F1 Merchandise  F1 Tickets  F1 Diecast  F1 Videos  F1 Games

Back To Top