http://www.thef1times.com/news/display/03833 Fernando Alonso says he doesn't regret turning Red Bull down after they approached him to join the team when he was negotiating terms with Ferrari in 2009. This comes at a time when Red Bull are dominating the sport, having taken every pole position this season as well as six of the eight race wins. The Spaniard however says racing for Ferrari is more important than securing another world championship title. When asked if he regretted saying no to Red Bull, he replied: "No, no, because perhaps I'd have three or four world championships, but I wouldn't be as happy as I am now nor would I be driving a Ferrari," he told Santander. "I think that it is more important for a racing driver to drive for Ferrari than it is to have a world championship." He also denied the decision was motivated by the potential pairing with Sebastian Vettel, a pairing which, if his time at McLaren is anything to go by, would have caused friction. "I don't have problems in sharing a team with anybody," urged Alonso. "I have been lucky to be with great drivers, although when they share with me it seems that they have lost speed and have become bad drivers. "Therefore, I like to beat my teammate, I like to race to the maximum and if a great driver comes and I also manage to beat him, perhaps what I do is valued more." When probed on his relationship with Lewis Hamilton and whether he would partner the 26-year-old again, the two-time champion replied: "Why not? I have no problem with Hamilton and neither did we have one at McLaren. "I have the absolute respect for him. As long as it wasn't at McLaren, sharing a team with Hamilton would be good." Now that would be a scary team to go up against next year...
I think this bit was more interesting. He does have a point. Most of his teammates were pretty well respected before he showed up.
Guys like Fisichella, Trulli and Massa were all highly regarded until they became Alonso's teammate. The rest of the interview is a good read, if anyone is interested: http://www.formulasantander.com/sea...red-bull-id-have-world-championships-i-wouldn
Cheers, Forza. I must admit, I was surprised when he said he'd rather drive for Ferrari than win world championships. I'm sure that's not true. I know it's the kind of thing di Montezemolo would like Alonso to say but I'm surprised he said it. Although I'm sure the company cars soften the blow.
You see but if he had been told to say this stuff and it was all PR crap. i doubt he would have implied that massa has become a bad driver.
I don't think he's been told what stuff he can and can't say. I think "rather drive for Ferrari than win world championships" is the kind of thing Ferrari would like him to say.
Glad Alonso is helping to put to bed all this rubbish in the media about him and Hamilton, you even hear it in the Beeb commentaries sometimes from Brundle, it might make it more interesting for people to have this fake rivalry but it is a complete nonsense.
Alonso fans look up for another round. Ferrari will be looking for WCC wins more than ever now with Red Bull claiming them all the time now.
Like ive always said, it was Mclaren he didnt like, not Hamilton. Dont blame him really, Mclaren are dicks. Especially Ron Dennis
for some reason this year, ive started to like Fernando, his talent at challenging near the top 3 at each race in what can be only be descirbed as a mediocre car by ferrari is impressive to say the least. tbh ferrari have not had a title challenging car for the last 3 years and that is unacceptable for their standards
If I was Lewis I wouldn't get in a Ferrari with an open door, driven by Fernando. Sounds bloody dangerous to me.
"I have been lucky to be with great drivers, although when they share with me it seems that they have lost speed and have become bad drivers." I wonder if something is being lost in translation here? Perhaps Alonso was referring to what he thinks the media tends to say - in terms of providing excuses for his adversaries?
As I began to read your comment Fred, I thought you were making a good point. Unfortunately, over-stating the remainder of your sentence detracts from it.
Should this thread be merged with the 2012 driver line-up one? I do not think Hamilton would want to go to Ferrari with Alonso still there to be honest.
I agree - in both senses. I cannot see Alonso agreeing to such a move; although I'd liked to be wrong here.
I could definitely see multi-lingual Alonso welcoming Hamilton into the Italian team in which he's already very comfortable and is very highly valued.
I just see the team up like this: [video=youtube;B04XbfibgT4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B04XbfibgT4[/video]
