Jaime Alguersuari column: Consistent Alonso can still win title

By Jaime Alguersuari Former F1 driver and BBC Radio 5 live analyst

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments98

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain spins off the track at the start of the Japanese Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit

For some time I have been saying that Ferrari's Fernando Alonso would probably win the world championship this year because of his consistency, but the situation has changed a little following the Japanese Grand Prix.

This is nothing new in Formula 1. Everything has been so close this season; it is one of the closest seasons in the sport's history.

The points advantage Alonso had built up has gone as a result of his first-lap retirement at Suzuka and Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull is more competitive than it has been all year.

The Red Bulls' pace in Japan was unexpected. Everyone thought they would be competitive in Singapore because they have been good all year on second- and third-gear corners and on traction. Those had been the big strengths of that car this year.

I didn't think the Red Bull would be so fast at Suzuka, which is a track with long straights, high-speed corners and a lot of lateral stress on the tyres.

But in fact they controlled the weekend from the start of Friday, and that means their chief technical officer Adrian Newey has improved the car.

The competitive situation is changing race by race. What Alonso needs to concentrate on now is to just keep on doing what got him into such a good position in the first place - being consistent.

He doesn't have the fastest car, but he never did. He just needs to keep scoring big points - to be in the top five, or ideally on the podium, in every race.

WHO'S TO BLAME FOR ALONSO'S RETIREMENT

There are a lot of opposing views on the incident that led to Alonso's puncture, which was caused by the front wing of Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus hitting the left rear wheel of the Ferrari.

Some people have blamed Raikkonen, others have blamed Alonso. In my opinion, it was just a racing incident.

The start at Suzuka is never easy. There are two corners in one, lots of cars, it's high speed and everyone wants to make up places. In 2010 there was also a big crash.

These things happen at the start of a race. You just need to try to avoid as many crashes as you can, but sometimes there is nothing you can do.

LOOKING FORWARD TO KOREA

I expect Red Bull's advantage to continue into this weekend's Korean Grand Prix.external-link

There is a good combination of corners in Korea and the layout is not that different in lots of ways - there are high-speed and medium-speed places and long straights, although there is more hard braking there than at Suzuka.

It looks like Red Bull have solved all the technical problems they had earlier in the year.

The Korean Grand Prix
The Korean Grand Prix is scheduled for October 14

That is an area where Ferrari have had an advantage - their car has never retired from a race this year because of a technical issue, whereas the other teams have struggled a little bit more.

If Red Bull can carry that on, that is going to make a difference in this final stage of the championship.

I don't see that on pure performance Alonso has much of a chance to beat Vettel in Korea, but he has a big chance to be on the podium.

The Ferrari is a good car and they have developed it very quickly. It's a consistent car and the fact that it's driven by Alonso makes it even better. He knows how to maximise the potential of his own car.

But the Ferrari is not the favourite for any specific race - it is not as fast as the McLaren or the Red Bull. Alonso has to play his cards as well as he can and hope the results go in his favour.

There are five races to go, starting in Korea, but although it feels like it's coming to the end of the year it's important for all those involved in the title battle to realise that five races is actually a quarter of the season.

There are a lot of points to play for and anything can happen.

Jaime Alguersuari, BBC 5 live's F1 analyst, drove for Toro Rosso in F1 from 2009-11. He was talking to BBC Sport's Andrew Benson.

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98 comments

  • Vettel has to be the clear favorite now (unfortunately) however I am surprised at Massa's 2nd place in Singapore ahead of both McLaren's.
    If Alonso can avoid anymore first lap incidents there could be a few twists and turns remaining.
    FORZA FERRARI!

  • I would be very disappointed to see Alonso not win the title this season. No other driver deserves it more than him; for his achievements this season alone. He has practically carried that car across the line race after race. I don't think any driver - namely Hamilton - can claim they have been let down by their team more so than Alonso. If it were not for him, Ferrari will look amateurish.

  • @24 Dont think the Massa's 2nd in Japan was truly reflective of current Ferrari race performance. SV could clearly have gone faster had he needed to. McLarens also underperformed, LH because of his bad setup, JB because strategy was overly conservative. Ferrari have a lot of work to do to keep FA in the title hunt.

  • @28 - Spot on. Alonso is consistently extracting the very best from a below-par Ferrari and is performing a role similar to that of Schumacher during his time there. Frankly I cannot believe for one second that Ferrari would thing about getting rid of Alonso. As BaggiosPonytail says, Alonso may get sick of an inferior car, but he does seem exceptionally settled with the Italians.

  • I'm glad that Jamie didn't comment on Grosjean. Let's focus on the real drama here which is a title race that will go down to the wire, especially as Massa seems to have found his performance edge again, so being a proper no. 2, so if Ferrari & Mclaren & Kimi have a good weekend, what could that mean for the Championship table with Vettel is down the field.

  • Still think Alonso's right in the title hunt mind. As much as his 'me, me, me' attitude annoys me, you could give old 'Nando a unicycle with a square wheel and he'd probably steer it to the podium. Phenomenal ability to take a naff car far beyond where its engineering deserves to be.

    But then you've got Vettel, who can make a slight advantage look like a grand canyon in class. Exciting times...

  • Doesn't look too good for Fonzie at the minute, with Red Bull finding their form at the right time it seems. But at least Alonso will get help if needed from Massa, who has nothing left to race for this year. Vettel in Webber has a team mate who really wants to beat him every week, regardless of the title race. And also why is there very little coverage on Kimi's amazing year back, 3rd so far.

  • ..(cont) And he has been signaled out by the BBC team experts as the best driver of the season. Prost has said it, Lauda has said it. Massa has said he is the strongest team mate he´s ever had, Montezzemolo has said he is the best driver Ferrari has ever had, Briatore has said he is the best driver of the last 20 years. And I could keep going...Are all these tribal Alonso fans?

  • #80 I do not agree.

    Alonso is the best racer of the grid not necessarily the quickest. He can more out of a poor car than virtually anyone else.

    Hamilton is probably the quickest driver.

    Button is the smoothest driver

    Vettel is just very good at every facet of an F1 driver's craft.

    Alonso will win drivers championship. he has had his bad luck. Vettel still has reliability issues

  • The 'guilty' party in Alonso's DNF is the FIA.

    It's their fault because they write the rules. In 2009 they introduced the current spec of ultra-wide front wings, which are as wide as the outer edges of the front wheels, and have horizontal sharp endplates. They've sliced a great many tyres since 2009.

    The FIA need to go back to the much more sensible width of the 2008 front wing.

  • Oh wait, sorry, its Bernie I'm talking about here; it would have to fill his pockets!
    Charity, what was I thinking :)

    P.S. I know there are more than go-karts involved, but it would still be mouth watering, it could mark the end of the F1 season!

  • Excelente! And... what are u gonna ride on next year Jammie? Any interest to bring HRT to the top thee 'eh?

  • Next F1 WDC - I think the general consensus is that Alonso is the fastest driver on the grid. Easily driver of this season and 2010.

  • @74,

    As @73 pointed out, did we get overdose of Vettel's articles last year for his much much more dominant performance last year than what Alonso has done this year? Answer is NO. Whatever little we got, half of the time it was more of putting down his performances saying how Vettel is yet to prove himself in an inferior car!

  • @74 Don't you think think that's a bit of a conspiracy theory? They report on Alonso because he's been the best driver by far this year. There's no "clear bias".

  • Jaime Alguersuari is an ex F1driver???
    I thought he was one of the new guys in the F1 scene!

  • @67 You deliberately miss the point or have comprehension that is not normal. I clearly said perspective of how Vettel or Raikkonen could overhaul Alonso. 2 times you posted now without understanding what I had originally written. If those are your comprehension abilities, well nothing more can be said. By the way, why are you so angry or worked up in your responses? Calm down!

  • I have to laugh, no other nationality is mentioned bar the fact that Vettel is German; as for who is favourite for the title, Vettel has to be with the current pace of the Red Bull, but as some comments allude to, five races to go, and as Murray Walker used to say, Anything can happen in Formula One… and it usually does.
    So enjoy the next five races and see who is on top after Brazil!

  • @mmc071 What a clown you really are! Anything that is not the drivers fault is misfortune. If a mechanical failure is not misfortune because the designers have pushed the limits, then a horrendous pit stop is not misfortune either, its just the mechanics have pushed the limits. I suspect you're just an LH fanboy or certainly just anti SV.....

  • In my opinion it's a three-horse race now:
    Vettel - clearly the favourite for obvious reasons but car reliability is questionable
    Raikkonen - least points so far but he's ridiculously consistent and will recieve a huge upgrade in Korea
    Alonso - Championship leader, not fast but he's consistent if he gets past the first corner.

    Take your pick!

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