Fernando Alonso does not expect to be able to compete with Sebastian Vettel in China this weekend.
The Ferrari driver said: “As we had already seen in Australia, once again in Malaysia, our race pace was much better than that in qualifying.
“In Sepang, both Felipe and I were running at a pace good enough to get to the podium and that was an important indication, even if we did not end up getting all we could have done.
“Clearly, I would like to always be fighting for the win but, at the moment, one car, Vettel’s Red Bull, seems to be out of reach.”
He said his team are bringing some aerodynamic updates to this weekend’s race:
“In Shanghai, we are due to try a new front wing and a few other aero updates: let’s hope they bring us something, but we will have to evaluate them very carefully in Friday’s practice.”
2011 Chinese Grand Prix
Image © Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo
maestrointhesky
13th April 2011, 21:17
Are we entering a neo Schumacher era?
Fixy (@)
13th April 2011, 21:24
There are lots of similarities: the young age, the nationality, and Vettel was grown in Schumacher’s karting track.
It is never a good sign when a strong driver, a championship contender, admits he can’t fight, because that means the championship is already decided unless his team can bring significant updates. Surely Ferrari will bring updates, but whether those will be enough to beat Red Bull and McLaren is beyond us.
maestrointhesky
13th April 2011, 21:40
I know its early days but I think so far it showing that pole has become more crucial than ever. If you’re not chasing anyone’s dirty air, and you can ‘manage’ your tyres at a safe distance from the chasing pack then you’re chances of a top step finish are significantly improved! These tyres are so frail that any kind of exertion completely wrecks them. You could see the disappointment on Hamilton’s face after quali, more so than in the past because I’m sure in the back of his mind he was thinking that the chance of winning had just gone in that session.
Todfod (@todfod)
13th April 2011, 22:25
Without a doubt pole position isn’t as important as it was last year. Tyre strategy, DRS and KERS help the Ferraris and Mclarens by providing them a fighting chance this year.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
13th April 2011, 21:52
It is a little on the negative side. There’s honest and then there’s just pure pessimism.
NestorLeone
13th April 2011, 21:25
I sincerely hope not. And I truly believe that THIS F1 has nothing to do with the Schumy era. Driver level’s are much much higher now than back then.
Mike
14th April 2011, 10:58
It is natural for the quality of drivers to improve over time, but, I don’t think that was entirely fair.
butterdori (@butterdori)
13th April 2011, 21:35
Wasn’t Schumacher’s dominance also exacerbated by the tyre war? I remember reading somewhere that Bridgestone worked extremely closely with Ferrari to create tailor made tyres for the Ferrari
I think there are too many good drivers and teams to let something similar happen.
Krit
13th April 2011, 21:39
No.
The ‘Schumacher era’ had two main characteristics:
1. One man dominance both inside his team and outside on the track.
2. Lackluster opponents, where after Mika Hakkinen, no one had the experience of being a world champion. It’s what separates the cream from the crop. It’s what Raikkonen couldn’t do in 2003 and did only in 2007 (arguably with a bankload of luck). Being a talented driver alone is not enough, you need that something extra to be a world champion.
Now,
1. We have Mark Webber, who is a good challenge to Vettel and certainly not a number two driver. I don’t care how many people brand him as that or that fact he has a massive number 2 on his cap, race suit and car. Even last year Webber started poorly, but look what he did come Barcelona, Monaco, Turkey.
If you’re not convinced, Webber will NEVER give up a win a la Barichello to Vettel. Not a support driver by any means.
=> Vettel doesn’t have a mighty team + 2nd driver to help him.
2. We have 4 other world champions on the grid. Often regarded as the finest grid as a whole ever in the sport’s history. This is in stark contrast to the Schumacher era where such competition just did not exist.
Whether that’s talent or machinery is up for debate, but personally I think it’s likely a mixture of both
=> Vettel has far tougher opposition.
So the possibility of Vettel replicating a Schumacher like dominance is far harder.
If Vettel does somehow replicate a Schumacher like dominance, we must not hold it equal to, but greater than Schumacher.
To end, what do you say when you automatically assume someone has pole, time in and time out and won 5 of last 6 races?
Sadly for some, the “domination” has started. The question is whether, crucially, he can maintain it.
Patrickl (@patrickl)
13th April 2011, 22:00
It depends more on how long Newey can keep producing cars that are so much faster than all the others.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
14th April 2011, 1:54
Amen. With an equal car, Vettel will always be in the running but never dominating. Same goes for any top driver of class. F1 works that way. With a dominant car, it will all be too easy, unless Webber can find his feet.
I agree, sad to hear a double-champ talk like this. I’d say something about the car being the star but it’s been that way for a very long time, arguably from the start.
Eggry (@eggry)
14th April 2011, 4:10
Yup. That is why I wish Vettel and Hamilton would be in same team someday.
David-A (@david-a)
13th April 2011, 22:08
Because while a very good driver, Vettel isn’t yet at the level where he can make everyone else look poor.
Krit
14th April 2011, 0:13
I don’t think no matter how good Vettel get’s, it’s not possible to make the likes of Alonso and Schumacher look poor.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
14th April 2011, 10:17
There’s that and the fact he’s had superior machinery in most of the races he’s competed in since 2009. So the days when he “would have” won anyway (skill) were assured (minus reliability gremlins) and the days someone else probably might have were won due to the machinery. It’s very hard to take the fight to someone who’s as good as you in a better car.
When you think of the people Schumacher was up against – Montoya, Hakkinen, Raikkonen, – they’re not a far cry from Alonso, Hamilton, Button in combined quality.
TdM
14th April 2011, 10:47
I agree, it’s all well and good praising him for his ‘brilliant dominant drives’ e.t.c. but it’s not that difficult when the pressure is off. He is world champion his car is much faster than the field and at the moment his team mate is not providing a challenge.
All he has had to do so far this season is get around the track in one piece (OK that’s a bit harsh) but my point is he gets so much praise from the BBC team (as per most lights to flag winners TBH) about how well he’s driving and how much more mature he is this year – it’s easy to be mature when you don’t need to fight for the wins. I think if the pressure builds he will be just as childish petulant and hot headed as he was last year/the year before.
You can’t judge a driver until he’s in a car that’s either even with competition or behind it.
On the other hand some of the other drivers ARE impressing this season:
Button – good form – not as fast as Hamilton and I still think Hamilton is the better driver but he’s showing a calm head (mostly) and solid driving
Hamilton – A bit down of late but again, showing much more maturity than in the past in his driving
Webber – has had a torrid start to the season but his head is up and he keeps battling he can be proud of his spirit and efforts
Alonso – I don’t like him out of the car but he is showing a true world champions talent and spirit – a car that isn’t performing correctly and driving it intelligently calmly and quickly
Vettel – we will see when the pack start to catch him.
Todfod (@todfod)
13th April 2011, 22:43
Gotta agree with most of what you have stated. For any driver to reach the Schumacher level of dominance in the current era is really a feat. Schumacher’s 2000-2004 championships were engineered. It was an era where everything (on track competition, off track politics) worked perfectly for one driver to take titles. Right now we have a very talented field, and a relatively level playing field, and if Vettel can maintain his dominance for a couple of seasons.. then hats off to him, because even though he drives an RB car, he still has to deal with Alonso and Hamilton.
jess
14th April 2011, 1:00
Wow,
I can not argue with your logic on this.
GameR_K (@gamer_k)
14th April 2011, 8:48
Like +9000
vjanik
14th April 2011, 9:48
dont forget that Alonso and Button, the two champions of the four, raced during the Schumacher era. so if you rate them highly now you should do so during that era as well. this includes webber and many others on today’s grid. so saying that schumacher had no opposition during 02-04 doesnt make sense. yes we have Hamilton and Vettel who joined later, but if they started in force india or minardi in 2007 it would be a different start to their career, and would effect their reputation.
looking at it without bias or emotion, the fact that there are many world champions doesnt mean that the quality went up, but that the racing is closer.
i think that the technology plays a bigger role than the drivers these days. the cars are underpowered thanks to their enormous downforce and frozen engine development. this means they are easier to drive than the V10s were. if you dont have the package you can be the best driver in the world but will not be able to win. whether or not you can go through certain difficult corners flat out is not determined by driver skill and bravery anymore, but by the car they drive.
to end schumacher’s domonance, the FIA had to resort to changing the rules to make that happen. all of a sudden Ferrari was in the midfield. didnt mean that the competition became stronger overnight.
Krit
14th April 2011, 17:50
I wouldn’t say the cars were harder to drive. They had Traction Control back then!
Alonso and to an extent, Button both showed Brilliance in the ‘Schumacher’ era. Agreed, they weren’t winning because of difference in machinery but winning isn’t everything.
Did Vettel have a winning car in Monza 2008? World champions know how to get the best out of the machinery provided. Take Alono last year as another prime example.
EGC
13th April 2011, 21:19
And… Why Vettel’s car and not both RBs? mmmmm…. I would like to ask this question to Webber.
Fixy (@)
13th April 2011, 21:25
That number 2 on his car is doing him the opposite effect that it caused in Massa in 2008.
RIISE (@riise)
13th April 2011, 21:26
Because facts are facts, Vettel has stuck it on pole twice and drove away from the field.
Whereas Webber who had it not been for Alonso hitting Hamilton’s car would’ve finished behind Fernando’s Ferrari in Sepang as well as in Melbourne.
Ace
14th April 2011, 9:25
…due to well documented problems with his car.
David-A (@david-a)
14th April 2011, 16:59
Still he wouldn’t have beaten Vettel though.
Ace
15th April 2011, 3:12
I suppose you’re right. Webber’s never beaten Vettel before *rolls eyes*
David-A (@david-a)
15th April 2011, 20:06
Webber doesn’t beat Vettel often enough to make me assume that Webber would have won.
Remember the qualifying battle: 29-9. And not in favour of Webber.
Ace
16th April 2011, 2:34
I commented because it didn’t seem like you made an assumption. It seemed like you stated a fact. That’s all.
Your stats (albeit not fuel-adjusted from ’09) suggest it was likely, sure. I just thought there should have been an ‘I think’, ‘I believe’ or ‘in my opinion’ thrown in for good measure.
Ace
16th April 2011, 2:36
Oh, and the eye-rolling was unnecessary on my part. Sorry about that.
Philonso (@philonso)
13th April 2011, 21:19
we didnt really need alonso to tell us that to know ferrari are matiz’s compared to the red bull (well vettel’s at least)
MW (@)
14th April 2011, 15:51
Don’t knock the Matiz!! I drove one that I hired to the Belgian GP… It was the only car that could make through the swampy campsite :)
Krit
13th April 2011, 21:25
Alonso burning Webber, the one who he is currently fighting. This is what Alonso always does before race weekends, mind games.
Sadly he doesn’t know that @aussiegrit (Webber) is best when he is being played as such and under pressure.
Fixy (@)
13th April 2011, 21:44
You’re right. I think he’s saying so to shrug responisibilities away from him in case he underperforms.
Eggry (@eggry)
14th April 2011, 4:06
Becaus Webber is not out of reach.
lewymp4 (@lewymp4)
13th April 2011, 21:27
I hope that Hamilton never takes that attitude.
Adam Tate (@adam-tate)
13th April 2011, 21:37
He never would, he is the biggest “fighter” on the grid, and that is why people love him. It took him awhile to win me over, but that fighting spirit is just something marvelous to see.
brendan
14th April 2011, 7:30
lewis pretty much gave up at the end of last season.
his attitude going into final races was ‘we are out of it’ despite being closer to the leader on points than vettel was.
Alosno not for the first time is just being honest.
GameR_K (@gamer_k)
14th April 2011, 8:51
Sorry but Hamilton was 4th on the list and Vettel was 3rd entering Abu Dhabi
Wobblebottom
14th April 2011, 8:00
Are you kidding?….whatever one’s opinion of Hamilton is…..he’s not a ‘loved’ driver
David-A (@david-a)
14th April 2011, 17:02
Of course he is a loved driver. He has his fair share of fans.
wyo (@)
15th April 2011, 19:44
but he is.
Fixy (@)
13th April 2011, 21:38
Hamilton is different. He may know it will be hard to match Sebastian but he never gives up and always fights at top levels and in the end comes very close to matching him.
matt90
14th April 2011, 13:33
Not when he’s qualifying only 0.1 seconds off pole he won’t. Unfortunately, the lead Vettel has makes the situation difficult, but look at the races.
Australia- Vettel got a very good start while Hamilton was slow getting up to speed, especially as he had to defend against Webber. Therefore Vettel built a lead which Hamilton made ground on. Perhaps Vettel was going at a steady pace, or perhaps Hamilton was genuinely able to keep him in check until his floor broke.
Malaysia- only 0.1s off pole. Vettel defended heavily into turn 1, which aided Heidfeld in getting past, who subsequently held Hamilton up. After the first pitstop Hamilton started catching once again. Had he had the tyres and a better pitstop perhaps it couls have been a closer race at the end.
The point is, in both races Vettel’s pace hasn’t been dominant, and if he was 2nd out of the 1st corner it could be a Mclaren who runs away with it.
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
13th April 2011, 21:30
It’s interesting that Alonso is saying things like this, when last year, when he was in (arguably) a worse position, he said he could still win the Championship (Halfway through the season).
Maybe he truly believes that Ferrari have no hope this year…
Santi
13th April 2011, 21:41
He’s not talking about the championship yet. He’s just talking about a race…
Todfod (@todfod)
13th April 2011, 23:03
Alonso has always been a bit of a sandbagger. He knows that Vettel has an advantage, but yet he makes it seem like it is almost impossible. If he gets a podium this weekend it seems like a bit of a surprise, but if he just misses out, he has still kept the expectations under control. I personally, do not like these lower expectation quotes, but I guess drivers have their reasons for making these kind of statements.
Last year his statements after Silverstone seemed a little emotional and spontaneous. After a terrible couple of races he just made a very bold statement, and almost kept to his word.
Eggry (@eggry)
14th April 2011, 4:08
He didn’t say I cannot win the championship. He just said ‘for now’ Vettel is out of reach which is true.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
13th April 2011, 21:53
Admittedly I can’t see Ferrari in the thick of it this weekend either but I don’t think that’s something should be saying so early on in the season. Perhaps after a couple of practise sessions but come on…
F1Lover
13th April 2011, 22:12
That’s what people said about Mclaren before Melbourne. Never write off the big teams sometimes a simple upgrade can turn things around.
Ferari and McLaren i am sure have learned from last year. And beeing in their position will make them work harder and harder don’t be surprise if they leave RBR behind.
Todfod (@todfod)
13th April 2011, 22:53
Agree with your point… but dont forget that after pre season testing, both Hamilton and Button said that they wouldn’t be able to fight for a podium place in Melbourne. Things turn around unexpectedly… but sometimes drivers just have to keep the fans’ hopes in check. Which is exactly what Fernando seems to be doing.
Siv
13th April 2011, 23:32
1992; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Schuey
1993; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Senna
1994; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Newey
1995; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Newey
1996; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Schuey
1997; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Schuey
1998; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Schuey
1999; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Irvine (Shuey)
2000; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Newey
2001; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Newey
2002; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Montoya
2003; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Newey
2004; 1st, Schuey; 2nd, Button
2005; 1st, Alonso; 2nd, Newey
2006; 1st, Alonso; 2nd, Schumacher
2007; 1st, Raikkonen; 2nd, Hamilton
2008; 1st, Hamilton; 2nd, Massa
2009; 1st, Button; 2nd, Newey
2010; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Alonso
In my mind, Newey is out of reach. Sure, Vettel is a good driver but you can stick any of the top drivers in that car and they’ll dominate.
Over the last 18 years, Newey has won 7 drivers titles and come second 7 times (I count second and the next constructor when the top two drivers are from the same team). Schumacher has won 7 drivers titles and come second 5 times (6 if you count the year where he handed over to Irvine after breaking his legs).
If Alonso wants to win and Vettel wants to show that it’s not all the car then they should both swap places.
rfs
14th April 2011, 0:01
1992; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Byrne
1993; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Oatley
1994; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Newey
1995; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Newey
1996; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Barnard
1997; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Barnard
1998; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Byrne
1999; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Byrne
2000; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Newey
2001; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Newey
2002; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Head/Fisher/Willis
2003; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Newey
2004; 1st, Byrne; 2nd, Button
2005; 1st, Bell/Densham; 2nd, Newey
2006; 1st, Bell/Densham; 2nd, Byrne
2007; 1st, Byrne Evolution; 2nd, Newey Evolution
2008; 1st, Newey Evolution; 2nd, Byrne Evolution
2009; 1st, Honda Money; 2nd, Newey
2010; 1st, Newey; 2nd, Costa/Tombazis
FTFY. :)
rfs
14th April 2011, 0:06
Oh and replace Button with Geoff Willis.
Eggry (@eggry)
14th April 2011, 4:15
Nice Try!!
DaveW
14th April 2011, 22:52
Nice work. It’s really disgusting how he dominates. Without Byrne, and the Honda Money all spent, who will stop him now that he has his mojo back? Tombazis and his other ex-grasshoppers at McLaren? The students are not going to teach the Sensei.
Prisoner Monkeys (@prisoner-monkeys)
14th April 2011, 5:44
I have no problems with this.
GameR_K (@gamer_k)
14th April 2011, 9:04
Nothing wrong with what Alonso said, he is aiming for second and if Seb has a problem he will swoop in like last year
bennie
14th April 2011, 10:01
Do they qualify with race fuel?
As the ferraris burn a lot more fuel than the renault engines I wonder if thats whats harming them at the start, but come 50% race distance they suddenly become a lot more competitive.
matt90
14th April 2011, 13:44
Not since 2009
alonsodz
14th April 2011, 12:09
so far yes but who knows
@ china many things will change including pole position 8)
Steve
14th April 2011, 18:18
Alonso is simply talking about current form. Why take it out of context ? The season is long. And Alonso has been in enough close title fights to know just that.
Go ahead and bag Alonso for his comments (Alonso haters), but write him off at your own peril.
Webber will come good. And I would like to see him come out ahead of Vettel at the end of the year. But sadly, I don’t think he will. I think he will fall short by about 30-40 points this year.