Another factor for MS to retire - Massa was catching him up, despite the disadvantages.
Massa, even with no disadvantages, is not a scratch on Schumacher.
Well, he still is da man who dethroned Schumi... that has to count for something...
Please... in each of Alonso's title winning years he was the second-best driver. If only the McLaren was more reliable and the Ferrari just better, Alonso would never have been World Champion.
That kind of arguing is pointless. It is same as saying Hill would never get his title if Williams was not so dominant at the time; he was likely not the best driver on the grid. Or, that Schumi would never dethrone Mika if McLaren was more reliable, or that he would never be 5 time in a row champ if McLaren and Williams managed to have better packages.
At the end of the day, there is almost always potentially a bit better driver in much worst car, and what counts is not who could have won (if he had better car) but who did win.
Fact is, FA had more points than the others at the end of both seasons, and his second champ season car was probably not best package around. It is also fact that he was capable of winning when he could and driving very reliably when he could not, avoiding any stupid mistakes and minimising damage (something that LH failed to fully accomplish). I think his capability to keep it cool on track is one of his best qualities, but he is also fast as... and that makes him expensive property.
Good post, I can understand McLaren Fans being upset with Alonso, that's natural. However, he's still fast as fook and I'm sure there will be a buzz in the Renault garages next season...
It's got nothing to do with me being upset with Alonso. I'm merely pointing out that some people think because you have won a world title that you are some how automatically a better driver than what you really are. Let's say Hamilton is more gifted than Alonso, why should McLaren back Alonso just because he has two titles from being the second-best driver? The fact is Raikkonen was the better driver in 2005 and Schumacher was the better driver in 2006. Although they didn't win the title, I would have employed both of them ahead of Alonso. Finally, Alonso is a great driver. I wish things worked out differently last season: he is good at car setup, excellent at overtaking and whilst not being
the fastest, he is still very fast.

Ayrton Senna: WDC 1988,
1989, 1990, 1991
McLaren: WCC 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998,
1999, 2007McLaren: WDC 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008