Amazing Alonso !

**steveaki13** · 27th May 12, 19:53

I think now, Alonso is a leading contender for the championship.

If the whole season is like the early races it will need a driver to stand out and be consistant determined and skillfull.

Alonso is one of the very best and he has the ability to stand out from the miriad of winners this season

**Mr Alca-Tazizzle** · 27th May 12, 23:10

Of course Alonso is an amazing driver, but Ferrari will have to continue to improve the car, and more so than the competition. I don't think he can win the championship with its current relative competitiveness to the other front runners.

**N. Jones** · 27th May 12, 23:32

Originally Posted by F1boat

Yes, he is amazing... I hope that he wins the WDC...

I have this sneaky feeling that Alonso is going to win the championship because he will be the most consistent out of the chaos.

Just a feeling.... no other facts to back it up...

**aryan** · 28th May 12, 01:51

Never been a fan of his, but hats off to Alonso. I have huge respect for what he is doing in that Ferrari. He is a top racer.

**Hawkmoon** · 28th May 12, 05:52

I'm ecstatic at Alonso's position in the championship, what Ferrari fan wouldn't be? I'd be reluctant to trade him for any other driver on the grid, Vettel and Hamilton included but I think his position in the WDC is, at least in part, due to the strange way this championship has started. Six different winners from six races is, to state the obvious, very unusual and has meant that nobody has scored big points in multiple rounds. Alonso's consistency has allowed him take the lead in the championship but in a normal season he probably wouldn't be close. The car simply isn't up to it at the moment and although he has driven brilliantly times he can't rely on five or six other drivers sharing the wins all season long. Unless the F2012 gets quicker I fear that Alonso won't feature in the title race come season end.

**F1boat** · 28th May 12, 09:55

I think that Ferrari is much improved since the first race and it is getting better and better.

**Firstgear** · 28th May 12, 16:19

Originally Posted by Hawkmoon

I'm ecstatic at Alonso's position in the championship, what Ferrari fan wouldn't be? I'd be reluctant to trade him for any other driver on the grid, Vettel and Hamilton included but I think his position in the WDC is, at least in part, due to the strange way this championship has started. Six different winners from six races is, to state the obvious, very unusual and has meant that nobody has scored big points in multiple rounds. Alonso's consistency has allowed him take the lead in the championship but in a normal season he probably wouldn't be close. The car simply isn't up to it at the moment and although he has driven brilliantly times he can't rely on five or six other drivers sharing the wins all season long. Unless the F2012 gets quicker I fear that Alonso won't feature in the title race come season end.

I agree. If yesterday's race was close to the end of season with Alonso & Vettel tied for points, RBR would have found a way to get Vettel ahead of Webber. But for now, the teams are letting the faster driver of the day take maximum points, whether he's high or low in the standings, so Alonso's consistency is really helping keep him up there. I expect this to change later in the season when favorites emerge. Alonso & Rosberg might be given consideration already, given the points gap to their teammates, but the other top teams will have to wait a while yet, before making the step to back one driver over the other, if they want a chance at the WDC. Once the teams make this descision, Alonso's consistency probably will no longer be enough, unless his car gets significantly better.

**kfzmeister** · 28th May 12, 16:38

On most occasions, the stars have all lined up for a guy to win the championship. The only "star" that needs to slot in is a better car (especially qualifying). The man can't put a foot wrong.
I really don't expect it to happen this year, but i'll be damned. Please, Formula one Gods, let Ferrari figure out the car details!!!

**jens** · 28th May 12, 18:28

Ferrari has certainly improved. We don't know, how will the tyres influence future races, but if Ferrari can be consistently as good as they have been in the last two races (podium material), then Alonso is certainly a contender. In fact, it would demand a rival team (RBR/McLaren) to find consistency very quickly by themselves, because consistently podiuming Alonso will be hard to match.

**Garry Walker** · 28th May 12, 18:52

Originally Posted by pino

Leading the championship with such a car...says all about his skills. Yes once again amazing Alonso

Well, he has been quite great, but let's be honest, Ferrari has been much better than many expected and at malaysia was at least the 2nd best car. It has not been an awful car at all.

**Hawkmoon** · 29th May 12, 01:47

Originally Posted by Garry Walker

Well, he has been quite great, but let's be honest, Ferrari has been much better than many expected and at malaysia was at least the 2nd best car. It has not been an awful car at all.

The car isn't awful but neither is it great. There have been times this year when the Ferrari was probably the fifth best car behind McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes and Lotus. At other times, as you say, it's been closer to the front. I think it's this very fact, the inconsistency of teams from race to race, that has allowed Alonso to get to to top of the table. As soon as one team finds a way to perform at every race the championship will settle down. If that team isn't Ferrari then I don't think Alonso will be able to overcome his car's shortcomings.

**airshifter** · 29th May 12, 03:01

Well done at Monaco for Fernando.

Though I still maintain the Ferrari isn't at crap as some make it to be. With Monaco being considered a "drivers track" Felipe finished only 12 seconds behind him. Based on the "6/10ths" claims he should have cleared much more than that.

The above in no way, shape, or form intended to be a knock on Alonso, simply my point of view on the car.

He better keep at it though, as the Red Bulls are right there waiting for a bad race out of Fred.

**Zico** · 29th May 12, 10:05

Originally Posted by airshifter

Well done at Monaco for Fernando.

Though I still maintain the Ferrari isn't at crap as some make it to be. With Monaco being considered a "drivers track" Felipe finished only 12 seconds behind him. Based on the "6/10ths" claims he should have cleared much more than that.

The above in no way, shape, or form intended to be a knock on Alonso, simply my point of view on the car.

I dont think the 12 seconds was a true representaion, Mark was just controlling the pace at the front and bunching everyone up.

The Pirelli's have everything to do with what we have seen this year.. I was paying close attention to Red Bull monitoring Marks slip angles ensuring he kept within the parameters and it made me realise just how much the drivers must have to hold back and pace themselves. It seems F1 is no longer about the quickest drivers/fastest cars, for me the tipping point or equilibrium between pace and endurance has moved too far in the wrong direction.

It seems that this years WDC winner will not necesarilly have had the quickest car he will just have managed his tyres very well, had good race savy ie; known when to push and when not to, had the best race strategist.. all that combined with a bit of luck and at the moment it looks as though Fernando has more of these attributes than the rest of the field.

Fernando you are an amazing driver.. keep it up!

**N4D13** · 30th May 12, 13:10

Originally Posted by airshifter

Though I still maintain the Ferrari isn't at crap as some make it to be. With Monaco being considered a "drivers track" Felipe finished only 12 seconds behind him. Based on the "6/10ths" claims he should have cleared much more than that.

A quick point - the six tenths claims were about how much Fernando's input could improve a car. It doesn't mean that he would be six tenths faster than anyone else.

Not that I have the smallest intention of bringing that argument alive, anyway...

**kfzmeister** · 31st May 12, 04:49

Originally Posted by N4D13

A quick point - the six tenths claims were about how much Fernando's input could improve a car. It doesn't mean that he would be six tenths faster than anyone else.

Not that I have the smallest intention of bringing that argument alive, anyway...

Can you think of someone else that can seriously extract 6/10ths out of the F2012. Keep in mind that the car doesn't need much more for him to put it on pole!

**Big Ben** · 31st May 12, 07:30

Originally Posted by N4D13

A quick point - the six tenths claims were about how much Fernando's input could improve a car. It doesn't mean that he would be six tenths faster than anyone else.

Not that I have the smallest intention of bringing that argument alive, anyway...

Don't bother. He knows how it was it's just that it didn't serve his purpose remembering it right.