Flavio Briatore, who has won titles with both drivers, believes Fernando Alonso is better than Michael Schumacher. "He (Alonso) is the best of the last 20 years," said the former Benetton and Renault boss, whose two-decade timeline would take F1 back to the Senna era.
Briatore told Italy's Sky Sport 24: "He (Alonso) is above Schumacher, but we are talking about very high levels and minimal differences. But Fernando makes very few mistakes, even under pressure, and his impression of the race is spectacular."
The Italian, who remains involved in the Spaniard's management, continued: "Sometimes a team can make mistakes with strategy but he can pull it back. And when he's ahead, 90 per cent of the time he will win the race, even if the car is not competitive. He lives and breathes racing only," added Briatore, who was banned from F1 amid the 'crashgate' scandal of 2008/9.
On the 2012 season more generally, Briatore thinks Alonso can win the championship but "Ferrari has to improve the car so that Alonso can win at least one more grand prix without McLaren being second. "There are many points, but if you're not first or second, there are only crumbs," he said.
Told that Red Bull's era of dominance is over, Briatore insisted "I don't think so", while he praised the Swiss team Sauber, who are "proof that money doesn't make the difference".
As for Romain Grosjean, who - once championed by Briatore - is emerging this weekend from an ultra-rare FIA race ban, Briatore said: "The federation did well. He (Grosjean) uses the car as though it's his, so he must begin to respect the work of the (Lotus) people because he causes many accidents. I would like to see what Alonso could do in his place," he added. (GMM)
Alonso better than great Schumacher - Briatore
- Published on 18 Sep 2012 11:56
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- By: Rob Veenstra
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
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Spain
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Bahrain
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Bahrain
Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
10 - Apr 12
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Apr 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
Monaco
Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Driver profile
- Team Aston Martin
- Points 628
- Podiums 9
- Grand Prix 196
- Country Spain
- Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
- Place of b. Oviedo, Spain
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.71 m
- 187,504 comments on Aston Martin
78 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Fernando Alonso
Team profile
- Team name Lotus F1
- Base Enstone, United Kingdom
- Daniel Ricciardo 3
- Kimi Räikkönen 7
- Romain Grosjean 8
- Kimi Räikkönen 9
- Romain Grosjean 10
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Pastor Maldonado 13
- Kevin Magnussen 20
- Nico Hülkenberg 27
- Jolyon Palmer 30
- Esteban Ocon 31
- Carlos Sainz jr 55
- 65,124 comments on Lotus F1
- 16 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Lotus F1
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