Alonso is a Whiner

I know it’s a bit late, but I have to say something about Fernando Alonso. As you might be able to tell from my blog picture, I’m a fan of the Ferrari team (Kimi and Felipe are my two favorite drivers). But despite my now admitted bias against the double-world champion, something has again been made very clear: he’s the biggest sore loser ever!

Any time things don’t go well for him, Alonso says something or someone is against him. When Schumacher was creeping back up in the points late in 2006, he implied that some of his mechanics were conspiring against him, so that he wouldn’t take the number one title with him when he left for McLaren. Now, when he drives to third in the 2007 Grand Prix of Spain, his home race, he criticizes Felipe Massa for being too “aggressive” and “risky.”

If you haven’t seen it, check out footage from YouTube.

Here’s what Fernando had to say at the post-race press conference: “I went on the outside, I braked later and I think I was much in front of him in the first corner, but unfortunately he didn’t think so and we touched each other. We were lucky to both finish the race because in 99 percent of these type of incidents, both cars will finish (their race) at the first corner. Sometimes I think this type of thing is very dangerous.”

Yes, Alonso was in front when he passed on the outside, but what was Felipe supposed to do – let him pass? From Massa’s onboard, we can see that he’s right on the inside curbs of the corner, and any more turning to avoid hitting Alonso would’ve put him off the track. Plus, right after that right-hander is a left turn to complete it. Was Massa just going to have to drive into the grass on the next corner?

This is racing, Fernando. You’re supposed to be aggressive. That’s the problem with F1 – drivers like Alonso who are too afraid to be aggressive and make the Grand Prix into parades. To complain that a race driver is being too aggressive is like a goalie saying, “They’re kicking the ball too hard!”

Come on, Fernando. You made it to the top because of your driving ability. On almost all of the F1 drivers I can’t stand – Prost, Schumacher, and Alonso especially – I can never doubt their great abilities as drivers. With Prost, even though he was Senna’s archrival, he was an amazing driver to watch. Schumacher was one of the most blatant cheaters I’ve ever seen, but at Brazil 2006 I stood in awe of his amazing driving ability. And no one can doubt that Fernando is an amazing talent. But to point fingers in every direction except your own is not the mark of a champion.

Alonso made a risky move and got burned (and no, that’s not a pun talking about Felipe’s pit stop at 3:33). He’s got to be enough of a driver to say, “I went for a tough pass and I didn’t make it. I can’t blame Felipe for just trying to defend the lead – I made a mistake.” But hey, this is Alonso. He’d blame everyone at the track before he’d admit to a mistake. Oh, and FORZA FERRARI!! [For the record, drivers I hate that suck: Jaques Villeneuve – although his father is one of the greatest drivers who ever lived – and Juan Pablo Montoya.]