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Posts Tagged ‘Fernando Alonso’

Fernando Alonso (July 29, 1981) perform this Friday in a scenario 30 years of great memories as it was in the Hungarian GP in 2003 where he achieved his first victory in Formula 1 , although the taste of victory was already sipping from eight years when he started his first drink in Pola de Laviana (Asturias). [Special The other side of our champions: Fernando Alonso]

From karting to Formula 1, Alonso is the living history of a genius of speed has been raised twice world champion , but perhaps should have scored some more, like last year, when he had everything going for it, and the less dubious strategy of Ferrari caused him many problems to win a victory in his hand.

The Hungaroring paddock welcomes this weekend to celebrate the anniversary of one of the greats of Formula 1 which is still active, with two titles, 27 wins, 20 poles, 19 fastest laps, 68 podium finishes, 959 points, 1,414 turns being first and 45,910 kilometers, all ten seasons and in 169 Grands Prix.

Alonso landed on the F1 circus from the F-3000, where it ran only one year (he was fourth) with the team Astromega. He joined Renault Sport for five years and gave it a season to be foguease Minardi. That was when the Spaniard had only 19 years, becoming the youngest Spanish rider F1 debut . Until then, only eight had gotten a flyer Spanish in the most famous motor race.

The big moment for Alonso happened on March 4, 2001 when he stood on a team Minardi, where he also had his debut Marc Gené, Luis Perez-Sala and Adrian Campos to participate in the GP of Australia, career also began his career Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams), Kimi Raikkonen (Sauber) and Brazilian Enrique Bernoldi (Arrows). Read the rest of this entry »

Ferrari has unveiled its new car for next season’s F1 world championship. And Fernando Alonso has said that he is confident it will help make amends after a disappointing 2010 season.

F150

The Italian team is the first F1 team to present its 2011 car, called the F150 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy this year.

The car is equipped with a new adjustable rear wing and has been amended to allow the addition of KERS – system kinetic energy recovery – which was banned last year but will return in 2011.

“The F150 was designed with a simple goal, said the boss Stefano Domenicali. Our goal is to win the championship. We know it will not be easy, but that’s what we want. ”

Alonso came close to achieving the goal last year. He had the opportunity to secure the championship in each of the last two races. But he failed in Brazil and he was then beaten by Sebastian Vettel because of a bad pit stop strategy to change tires in Abu Dhabi.

At the dawn of its second season at Ferrari, the double world champion told that he feels more at ease with his surroundings.

“I think I know better team and I’m better integrated, he noted. Any development carried out throughout 2010 was crucial in designing the new car.

“I’m very motivated. 2010 was an interesting year for me. It was my first with Ferrari and I liked the atmosphere. The 2011 season will be an important year with a new challenge after the law changes. We are committed to do everything possible to win and I think we are able to meet the challenge. ”

Ferrari the constructors’ championship finished third behind Red Bull and McLaren. The team also found at the heart of a controversy when she was accused of having applied the team orders at German Grand Prix.

The team was fined $ 100 000 for asking Felipe Massa, word covered during a radio message, to let Alonso pass while the first was leading the race.

Massa enters his sixth season at Ferrari, but he has not won a Grand Prix since 2008.

The season’s F1 world championship, which includes 20 events, kicks off March 13 in Bahrain and will conclude on November 27 in Brazil.

Fernando Alonso, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel? Ferrari upgrade? Team strategy or total freedom from Red Bull? Lewis Hamilton ready to knock out all his people? Formula 1 reserves a Hitchcockian final Sunday for his final Grand Prix of 2010 in Abu Dhabi.

Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber

The suspense has rarely been so intense for the awarding of a title. Three men, Alonso (246 points), Webber (238) and Vettel (231) sail in just 15 lengths, when a victory is worth 25. And a fourth, Hamilton (222) stands in ambush if all these people get out.

“Given how does this championship, it could be another two or three races, it would still be as tight. Nobody has ever been 25 points ahead this season,” says the Australian.

The amazing final of the 2007 season back into memory instantly. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), winning the Brazilian GP with the help of her partner Felipe Massa, had blown for a point to both the crown of McLaren teammates Lewis Hamilton enemies and Fernando Alonso.

A great moment that the Scuderia will not soon forget. It also asks for a similar scenario on the gleaming Yas Marina circuit. If only the two Red Bull drivers, furious rivals the Championship, could cancel each other …

For the Austro-British team, victorious in Abu Dhabi last season through Vettel is expected to play leading roles this weekend, as it has done all season or so. And Ferrari, Alonso or rather, to keep the valiant underdog.

Alonso knows the movie

Thus arises the question of team orders. Last Sunday at Interlagos, Red Bull had refused to ask the German to pass his teammate, second, which would have allowed Webber to return to a point Alonso third of the race. The Spaniard had appreciated.

Vettel had preserved his side’s title chances. But with 15 points off the Iberian, he knows that his chances of coronation in three days are not huge. 3rd place would be enough to be eliminated from the competition.

“The favorites this weekend are clearly and Mark Fernando, acknowledges the German. I’ll just try to do my best. Then everything will depend on where these two types,” he recognized the person.

In the event that the Brazilian scenario repeats itself – first Vettel, Webber second, Alonso 3 in the final round – which will not be enough to German to be crowned, he let go when his teammate, he will be crowned in victory, provided that the Ferrari driver finished third at best?

Already little to say on the subject in Sao Paulo, Baby Schumi would not elaborate further on Thursday. “It’s pretty clear,” did he merely replied, “We are both working for the same team.”

Alonso, he said “do not want to spend any second thought” for tactical choices of Red Bull.

“My only goal is to finish first or second in the race. That is our guarantee to mathematically win the title,” said the Spaniard, who is “first class” on the grid in qualifying, “the pole position is welcome. ”

And add, provocative towards novices Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel: “over the last six seasons, four times I’ve been in position to win the title at the last race. I know the movie!”

Fernando Alonso, the new leader of the world championship of Formula 1, called on Friday to stay “grounded” to two races remaining this season, believing that the conquest of the title required that Ferrari and himself are now “perfect”.

“I came back to head the ranking, which had not happened since Australia. But we know that with this point system and with the differences that there have few positions: it is sufficient to a race, as we saw in Korea, to reverse the situation, “remarked the Spaniard.

Ex-3e General, Alonso benefited from an accident by Mark Webber and then the explosion of the engine Sebastian Vettel to steal first place in the Championship for both Red Bull drivers at the Grand Prix of South Korea Sunday Yeongam.

“Knowing that achieving this goal depends on us gives us a bit more quiet, but this does not change our approach. We will do everything possible (…). The only difference is that we can safely stay ahead of our direct opponents, without making too many calculations, “he said.

For the next Grand Prix, November 7 at Interlagos (Brazil), the “tour is rather short, and deviations smaller than usual,” commented Fernando Alonso, who with 231 points, just 11 ahead of Mark Webber’s dolphin.

“The slightest blunder will have even more because it will require a one or two tenths of a second to have seven or eight cars in front or behind. We will have to be perfect,” said the Spaniard.

“Naturally I have fond memories of this track. I’ve won my two titles in 2005 and 2006. Every time I go to Sao Paulo, I feel a special emotion,” Alonso told the site Ferrari.com .

“But do not want to think that the scenario could be repeated a third time: I know there is a theoretical possibility, yet it does not matter to me. We want to confront this GP as all the previous ones, focused on ourselves, feet on the ground, “he said.

Spain’s Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, won the Grand Prix Sunday Formula 1 Singapore, signing a second consecutive victory after his win in Italy two weeks ago.

Under the lights, the world champion of 2005 and 2006 resulted from one end to another, before winning the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel on the Marina Bay circuit. He beat Vettel by just two tenths of a second.

“This win is very significant,” said Alonso. We wanted to confirm on a runway in aerodynamics more pronounced than the car was handling well, and that’s what we did. It seems that we can be competitive on n ‘how important track. ”

With 191 points, Alonso was in second place in the Drivers’ World Championship, still dominated by Webber (202 points).

The margin between Alonso and Vettel has remained at about one second for much of the last quarter of the race, but Vettel was unable to passing on the tight track at Marina Bay.

“I tried to push as much as possible to make a mistake,” said Vettel. But it’s not easy to overtake here, and it would have been too risky. ”

Jenson Button was fourth for McLaren, the Mercedes in front of Nico Rosberg’s Williams and Rubens Barrichello.

Second in the championship before the race, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was abandoned after a collision with Webber, hampering his chances of being crowned world champion.

Hamilton approached the front of the fireball Webber, approaching the corner in the 35th round of 61, but the Australian has not conceded the inside, and there was a collision. The race was over for Hamilton while Webber continued his road, his car was not damaged.

The marshals have studied the sequence but chose not to punish, determining that it was an accident within the limits of fair play of the race.

“It was a key moment in the race for me,” said Webber. I am very happy with my third place. ”

Webber has visited well after only three rounds – a bold strategy that has paid off, passing it from fifth to third place when other drivers went to refuel. By cons, ad it very spare tire wear at the end of the race, which has complicated the task to contain Button.

Hamilton started the race just five points behind the leader in the drivers, but a second straight race without result relegates the now 20 points from Webber.

“I do not really think about a championship,” said Hamilton. I’m just trying to have a nice end of season. I will fight to the end, but we are far from the head. The next four races will be difficult. ”

There are four races before the end of the season. The next Grand Prix will be held in two weeks in Japan.

World Championship standings after Singapore Grand Prix:

1. Mark Webber (AUS) 202.0 pts

2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 191.0

3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 182.0

4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 181.0

5. Jenson Button (GBR) 177.0

6. Felipe Massa (BRA) 125.0

7. Nico Rosberg (GER) 122.0

8. Robert Kubica (POL) 114.0

9. Adrian Sutil (GER) 49.0

10. Michael Schumacher (GER) 46.0

11. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) 39.0

12. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) 21.0

13. Vitaly Petrov (RUS) 19.0

14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 18.0

15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) 13.0

16. Sebastien Buemi (SUI) 7.0

17. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) 6.0

18. Alguersuari (ESP) 3.0

Constructors’ Championship:

1. Red Bull 383.0 pts

2. McLaren 359.0

3. Ferrari 316.0

4. Mercedes 168.0

5. Renault 133.0

6. Force India 62.0

7. Williams F1 57.0

8. Sauber 27.0

9. Toro Rosso 10.0

Under the vivas of the tifosi, the Spaniard Fernando Alonso, Ferrari won Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, remaining in the race for the Drivers’ World Championship, now led by Australian Mark Webber of Red Bull.

Alonso overtook Briton Jenson Button, McLaren and Felipe Massa of Ferrari. He signed his third win of the season and 24th of his career.

With this success by placing eighth among the winners in F1 history, the Spanish world champion in 2005 and 2006 equaled the number of F1 success by Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio.

Webber returned to the top of the World Championship. Sixth Sunday, the Australian took advantage of the abandonment, in the first round, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, the championship leader before the starting signal.

It now has 187 points, against 182 for Hamilton. Followed by Alonso (166), Button (165) and Sebastian Vettel for Red Bull with 163 after a fourth place Sunday.

Initiating the race from pole position, Alonso, Button has seen him snatch the lead at the first corner, but his priority was restored in the 38th round, thanks to a change of tires.

The first round was also the scene of an incident between the McLaren of Hamilton and Ferrari’s Massa. The British driver has dropped a little further, giving the head of the World Championship in Webber, yet he also wrote a bad start (sixth on the grid, and ninth after the first round).

Monza Grand Prix, 14th of 19 races this season, was the last on the European continent this year. The next event will be held September 26 in Singapore.

Standings Grand Prix, the 14th round of the World Championship Formula 1:

1. Fernando Alonso (ESP / Ferrari)

the 306.720 kilometers in 1:16: 24 572

(Average: 240.850 km / h)

2. Jenson Button (GBR / McLaren-Mercedes) in 2938

3. Felipe Massa (BRA / Ferrari) at 4223

4. Sebastian Vettel (GER / Red Bull-Renault) at 28,196

5. Nico Rosberg (GER / Mercedes) to 29,942

6. Mark Webber (AUS / Red Bull-Renault) at 31,276

7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER / Williams-Cosworth) to 32,812

8. Robert Kubica (POL / Renault) at 34,028

9. Michael Schumacher (GER / Mercedes) to 44,948

10. Rubens Barrichello (BRA / Williams-Cosworth) 1:04.213 to

11. Sebastien Buemi (SUI / Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1:05.056 to

12. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA / Force India-Mercedes) 1:06.106 to

13. Vitaly Petrov (RUS / Renault) 1:18.919 to

14. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP / Sauber-Ferrari) 1 lap

15. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP / Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1 lap

16. Adrian Sutil (GER / Force India-Mercedes) at 1 lap

17. Timo Glock (GER / Virgin-Cosworth) 2 laps

18. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN / Lotus-Cosworth) 2 laps

19. Sakon Yamamoto (JPN / Hispania-Cosworth) 2 laps

20. Lucas Di Grassi (BRA / Virgin-Cosworth) 2 laps

Ranking of drivers:

1. Mark Webber (AUS) 187.0 pts

2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 182.0

3. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 166.0

4. Jenson Button (GBR) 165.0

5. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 163.0

6. Felipe Massa (BRA) 124.0

7. Nico Rosberg (GER) 112.0

8. Robert Kubica (POL) 108.0

9. Michael Schumacher (GER) 46.0

10. Adrian Sutil (GER) 45.0

11. Rubens Barrichello (BRA) 31.0

12. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) 21.0

13. Vitaly Petrov (RUS) 19.0

14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 16.0

15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) 12.0

16. Sebastien Buemi (SUI) 7.0

17. Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) 6.0

18. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) 4.0

Manufacturers Standings:

1. Red Bull 350.0 pts

2. McLaren 347.0

3. Ferrari 290.0

4. Mercedes GP 158.0

5. Renault 127.0

6. Force India 57.0

7. Williams F1 47.0

8. Sauber 27.0

9. Toro Rosso 11.0

The Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was upbeat in an act of Banco Santander despite the engine problems he has suffered his car at the start of the season and admitted that his arrival at the Italian team has made him enjoy driving again.

“I enjoy driving again and feel the itch to win,” he said of his move to Ferrari. The Spaniard praised the car that drives this season: “The F10 is the best car I’ve ever driven, but in F1 you can always improve.” And he was blunt to ensure: “We will reach the Red Bull.”

The Spaniard made it clear he is not worried about the problems he has suffered from engine: “The car I see it has been great during the first few races, but for some reason or another we could not make all the points we wanted. I we’ll have a great car in Barcelona and I’m certainly worried. ”

provide a win to the fans ”

“The problems we have had motor are located: it is nothing of the valve system or the engine air intake, as has been written. Montemeló and try to reach the remainder of the championship with a hundred motor one hundred reliable, “said Alonso. “The Ferrari mechanics are very confident to have solved the problems and hope that the fans had a great time and has very good atmosphere, as always”, he added.

The double world champion hopes to get the win at Montmelo: “Hopefully we can bring home a win for the fans. We are working for both the F and other news duct ready for Barcelona. This system is not simple.”

“I have high regard and respect all my rivals. A few can be left more room than others. It’s time to show who is to win the World Cup and who is not. Start a good fight now,” he said.

About Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso of praise: “We have enormous respect for Schumacher. It is true he has not done better start to the season but the best Michael is coming and we know what he is capable.”

Alonso denied that Britain’s Lewis Hamilton has privileges at the World Formula 1: “No I think Hamilton have any kind of privilege.”

Finally, would not comment anything about the overtaking he did to Felipe Massa at the Chinese Grand Prix: “I do not know either very well what he said, but what is clear is that 15 days after a race can no longer talking about important things so minute, so I’m going to refuse to answer. “

The Ferrari engine is causing more headaches than expected at the start of the championship. In the offseason it was feared that the consumption would be the Achilles Heel of the propeller, but in the end are other faults that are sowing of concern to the team. We have three races and both Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa have already had to use three different engines. And what is worse, after the failure of Sunday in the case of Spanish, you must use the room at the next meeting of China.

The problem is not minor, since the regulation allows eight engine changes during the season, and if there is one more change is penalized with ten places on the grid. And from then on as many times as they occur. In Shanghai, Alonso and take four tests in the absence of fifteen. The average is worrying. The engines are changed, if you manage, you can still be used for free practice, which limits the mileage of new but not entirely prevent its use.

In all cases, Ferrari has had to change the unit as a precaution. From the first time in Bahrain, the substitutions have been motivated by sensors and telemetry results that have advised. Most worrisome is that in Kuala Lumpur has happened twice.

A Fernando already changed the engine after free practice on Friday and the race yesterday substitute melted. Two in the same test. Three if you count Felipe Massa. also after practice Friday, and five if we add the two of Sauber, which prevented out to Pedro de la Rosa and end at Kamui Kobayashi. A bad mark for the propeller.

Ferrari kept secret on grounds of being the only team which has already been three changes and goes for four. Mercedes and McLaren have two with the same engine in both cars, the same as Sebastian Vettel in his Renault by just one of Mark Webber. Neither the new Cosworth, serving the four teams in addition to Williams debutantes show many signs of weakness.

Cooling problems, extra consumption, lower reliability … various theories circulating, but the Italian team would not confirm any. Although not hide his concern: “We had a couple of reliability issues that should serve as a warning. If we want to claim the title must fix this,” Stefano Domenicali said yesterday, responsible for the Scuderia.

Fernando Alonso was “satisfied” with the result that the day of testing conducted Friday Ferrari in Jerez, where the Spaniard was able to perform extensive work on a dry track.

The Spanish driver, who did 132 laps at the track and had the second fastest time of the day (1:20.115), after Red Bull’s Australian Mark Webber (1:19.299), said on Ferrari’s official website that ” results are positive, “because this long session on a dry track has helped him become better acquainted with the new car.

“I’m happy because we have done many miles short. The result is positive because we could learn more about the new car. One can say that, step by step, we approach the one hundred percent,” he said.

“Also my place in the team is improving every day, like my feeling with the F10,” said Alonso, who hoped that the day Saturday, which completed its testing in Jerez, is also in good weather , which, according to weather forecasts, will be well in the morning, more unstable.

Fernando Alonso did not disappoint in its coming-out with Ferrari. The Spanish rider was fastest in the Cheste circuit to make the best record in the three days of practice to stop the chronometer in 1:11.470. Second was Pedro Martínez de la Rosa and third Michael Schumacher, with Alguersuari in fourth place.

Maximum forward to see Alonso in Chester

It was Alonso’s day and the reigning world champion responded to expectations in a circuit in which there were 36,400 people and where there were traffic jams of up to 11 km in its vicinity to arrive. It was ten o’clock in the morning when it came to most desired. Fernando took the F10 and gave a lap of appreciation and then return to the pits. It was the first touchdown. Then he gave his first stint, where was downhill all the time, surprisingly for someone who opens with a new car.

In sets of 10 laps with breaks of no more than 20 minutes, Alonso times 1:12 rondeau always low. Even exceeded by up to six times the best time of Felipe Massa won the previous day. It was around 12 am when he beat first Brazilian record with a time of 1:11.709. Then, at 13:45 pm, returned to surpass himself with which, ultimately, was the best record 1:11:470.

Good day for De la Rosa and Alguersuari
They are also good to see two other Spanish. De la Rosa, who led for a few minutes practice, setting the second fastest time despite the car came to stop in the middle of the track. Alguersuari, meanwhile, became third. It was a historic moment for our country because for the first time three Spanish riders led a rating of times, if only it were some workouts.

Schumacher, soft started, ended this magical moment. He started off his day to register third and oust Alguersuari, thus establishing the first four in perpetuity. World champion, Jenson Button, who made his debut for McLaren, showed he still has a long way to go to the wheel of the MP4-25.

Loaded with fuel
It was a day with a large audience in the stands. Nobody wanted to miss the debut of Alonso. Even many celebrities who came to greet the Spanish drivers like Carlos Sainz, President of the Generalitat Valenciana Francisco Camps, or Valencia goalkeeper Cesar.

In the afternoon session focused more on testing the fuel-laden cars to suit a different type of driving and in which to stem also changes. Do not forget that this year you can not refuel during the race and so the driver wants to adjust to this new rule. Hence, the records were worse, and except in the final straight in to try to empty shells fall times, as did the Russian Vitaly Petrov-R30 with the thing did not dare.

What is clear is that Fernando Alonso will fight for the championship this year, which so far is better than teammate and, today, Ferrari is ahead of other teams.

The times in the third and final practice session:
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1:11.470 (127 laps)
2. Peter M.de la Rosa (Sauber) 1:12.094 (80)
3. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) 1:12.438 (82)
4. Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) 1:12.576 (97)
5. Jenson Button (McLaren) 1:12.951 (82)
6. Vitaly Petrov (Renault) 1:13.097 (75)
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Williams) 1:13.669 (126)