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Fernando Alonso named Best F1 Driver of 2008, Hamilton and Massa snubbed
According to Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, Fernando Alonso is the best driver in Formula 1 and would have won the 2008 championship had he been driving a Ferrari. If that sounds like a major slap in the face to current Ferrari drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, it is. Lewis Hamilton, the man who actually did managed to win last year's title, was voted as the second best driver.
It seems worth mentioning that this vote came shortly after the recently rumored secret contract between Alonso and the Prancing Horse. Regardless, the Italian rag does correctly point out that Alonso finished the season in an impressive fashion, scoring more points than any other driver in the series despite being handicapped by equipment that wasn't up to par with the best from Ferrari, McLaren and BMW.
[Source: World Car Fans | Photo: Vladimir Rys/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hashiryu 6:40PM (12/29/2008)
Coulda, woulda, shoulda. La Gazetta can shove it.
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cFoo 8:43PM (12/29/2008)
Obviously you have no idea what Alonso was able to do with the crappy equipments.
He's a cry baby but nevertheless he was the best driver in 2008.
halogenrep 9:37PM (12/29/2008)
Alonso was on the McLaren team and lost to Hamilton in terms of points. Any excuse for that?
Flyingknees 8:17AM (12/30/2008)
yo, halogenrep
Get your facts straight. Alonso and Hamilton finished level on 109 points in the 2007-08 season. Considering how McLaren basically did everything they could to make Lewis win and not Fernando, I think thats pretty damn good.
Massa was definitely the best driver in 2008 though. Its easier to go all out when you have nothing to lose and record a lucky victory like Alonso did. Massa was under pressure thoughout and never cracked. He had numerous mechanical failures while Hamilton didn't have a SINGLE one. Yet, a Toyota had to break down yards from the finish line for Lewis to win the championship.
PumaGTO 3:40PM (12/30/2008)
@ Flyingknees
Massa indeed raced like a champion, but either say that he never cracked or that Hamilton never had mechanical problems are both incorect. Remember Silverstone? Remember the race (I actualy forgot wich) where Hamilton had problems whith his engine and still won?
As I brasilian I admit that if I could, I'd have sabotaged hamilton's car at Interlagos or shot the man who invented that pit-stop green light, but Hamilton raced superbly through the whole championship and deserved the title (Massa did too, sure).
As for the F1 best driver of 2008, I think Alonso is a bit suspicious, but it´s tough competition. Massa, Hamilton, Alonso, Vettel... All of them did very well.
Beastage 6:41PM (12/29/2008)
Yea if anyone could have been the champion it was Massa, his stupid start of the season ruined his chance.
Most of the season he was the best driver.
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Christian 6:54PM (12/29/2008)
Why is it news what some Italian sports daily says?
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Racedriven 7:34PM (12/29/2008)
Let me get this straight, Lewis Hamilton, won races and after lossing the World Championship last year, finally wins his first F1 World championship and yet Alonso, who didn't do all that much in 2008, besides win one or two races and ran his mouth wins Best F1 Driver of 2008, what a joke.
Oh yeah, second, why would Ferrari want to waste their time (rumored) signing with a big mouth - Fernando Alonso? Didn't we hear this rumor last season too? Next...
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MachinaDC5 7:55PM (12/29/2008)
Let me guess, you're incredibly unfamiliar with Formula One, aren't you? Ever watched any races? Know anything about the different cars these guys are driving? Anything about the teams?
I can't imagine you're at all familiar with the sport if you're making statements like you just did.
Soccer Mom 7:51PM (12/29/2008)
Why him? Why not me? Although I did not participate and drove a Dodge Caravan below the speed limit all year around, I am sure I am the best driver out there, if, of course, I had been driving a Ferrari.
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geo.stewart 8:21PM (12/29/2008)
I drove at speeds that defied gravity, police, and the humble beginnings of my vehicle, all without notice.
Give me a Spanish heritage and the Spanish press will also award me driver of the year.
I'm guessing if he was best, he would have won. Dont blame it on the car. If you were all that, you'd be in a better car.
AZZO45b 12:05PM (12/30/2008)
Alonso won races in a RENAULT. Think of it as him driving your Dodge Caravan against McLarens & Ferraris in those GPs... & he BEAT them.
Your comparison is beyond retarded(& insulting to any professional driver). Alonso's skill should be recognized & praised... not compared to your unskilled (& uneventful) drives home with the rugrats.
Having said that... Lewis Hamilton was the best F1 driver. The points & his WDC trophy say more than any Italian magazine ever could. Next!
Franz 8:19PM (12/29/2008)
Alonso won one race (Singapore) on sheer luck after the Ferrari pit crew cost Massa the race. He again lucked out in Japan after inheriting the lead following the questionable penalty handed to Hamilton for the turn one incident. Prior to that, his highest finish was fourth... I'm the first to admit that he's a phenomenal driver, but the best of '08? What the hell are they smoking? Massa was by far the most consistent driver. He got off to a shaky start, and his pit crew and the Ferrari engine let him down on quite a few occasions. Despite his bad luck and Ferrari reliability issues, the stats speak for themselves:
1. Six pole positions.
2. Six race wins.
3. Qualified in the top three a total of 13 times.
4. Finished on the podium a total of 10 times.
I'm a Lewis Hamilton fan, but Felipe Massa was by far the best driver of the '08 season.
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bw 10:24PM (12/29/2008)
Alonso didn't 'luck out' in either of his wins, if you watched more f1 you would understand what a racing incident is. In singapore, he pulled a 6-7 second lead on rosberg in 2 laps after the last restart, and nico raced phenomenally there. In japan he completely destroyed kubica, who raced as good as, or better, than kimi. And hamilton deserved the penalty in japan, he was far too stupid at the first corner, and took out both ferraris. He pulled a fisi, and that man never took home a championship. Watch some more f1, with comprehension, possibly youtube some old stuff so you don't come off as a total idiot in future posts.
Franz 1:03AM (12/30/2008)
LOL. I don't need to watch any more F1. I've been watching it religiously since the 80s, and I haven't missed a single race in the last 5 seasons. Alonso completely lucked out in both those races because if it weren't for other driver's misfortune, he would have never even seen the podium in either race.
In Singapore, if Ferrari didn't have that snafu in the pits, Massa would have won... no question about it. It's not even a debate. In Japan, he qualified fourth, behind Hamilton, Kimi and Heikki respectively. Lewis' turn one move effectively took out all of the top three... he wouldn't have even gotten a whiff of the top step if it weren't for other drivers and team mistakes. If that isn't lucking out, I don't know what is.
You need to go watch some YouTube and old clips to realize that inheriting race wins based on other drivers mistakes and misfortunes isn't anything to be ashamed of, but it is indeed blind luck... matter of fact, Alonso's second championship was won on a bit of luck too, after Schumacher suffered that puncture. Kiss Fernando Alonso's butt all you want, but it doesn't change that fact. Now shut the f*ck up so you don't come off as an a$$hole, AND and idiot in your future posts.
Franz 2:12AM (12/30/2008)
ps. It was an engine failure that took Schumi out of contention at Suzuka in '06. His puncture at Interlagos just added insult to injury. Luck is a part of the sport, and Alonso has been one lucky driver his whole career. It doesn't mean he's not an excellent driver: I've said as much in my first post, and have always said it. I don't like him much, but he's one of the best out there... just not the best of '08.
TMoore545 6:34PM (1/31/2009)
Ur sayin that massa was the best driver, but u can't forget that he is drivin a Ferrari! Alonso was only drivin a renault, a fairly poor car at the start of the year but he worked with the team and actually tried and he gt 2 wins for his troubles!! Yes they may have been fairly lucky wins but winning is winning no matter what!! And havin won in a poor car makes it all the better
slicecom 8:27PM (12/29/2008)
As a Hamilton fan and as someone who lost a lot of respect for Alonso for the way he acted in 2007, I would not dispute this.
Alonso was consistently very impressive in a terrible car while the other top drivers all made quite a few stupid mistakes during the season.
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FordGT 8:34PM (12/29/2008)
I agree with the choice. Alonso may not be the most likable but he can drive. He was more focused than the other drivers.
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D-Boe 9:18PM (12/29/2008)
Alonso's been the best driver since he got into F1. He didn't run his mouth or whine, either. The press did that for him, and for the good of the sport. Rivalries bring business. Watching his interviews, he never said or did anything out of turn, but people apparently expected him to give up his career by keeping his mouth shut about his team's cheating. FIA made it clear that the drivers would be fired if they didn't cooperate. Considering that McLaren had already dropped a light fixture on his car, given him non-competitive fuel loads and tire pressures, is it really a surprise? We'll see this year... I bet Renault's got a great car this time around, with a proper driver on board to set it up and test it.
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