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[darwin dali]

F1 live:

Fernando Alonso has been named the top F1 driver of the 2008 season by Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The daily sports newspaper said the Spaniard outclassed both Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, despite the latter duo occupying first and second spots in the final drivers' classifications.

"Why Alonso? Because he was driving a Renault, which did not begin as the best machine, but in the last six Grand Prix no-one scored more points than him," the publication said of the 27-year-old.

"In wise and close collaboration with his engineers, he gradually improved to a level of high competitiveness that allowed him not only to win two races, but to do better than everyone from September onwards: 43 points for him versus 33 for Massa and 28 for Hamilton."

"And all this with the handicap of Renault engine power. Had he driven a Ferrari, the title would certainly had been his."

World champion Lewis Hamilton was named second best due to his strength "on every type of track, in the wet and in the dry, showing no weaknesses," while Felipe Massa is third when "no-one expected him to be so strong" despite being "bombarded by bad luck in decisive moments."

BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica was named next best, ahead of young Monza winner Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen rounded out the top ten.



Rather fair assessment, don't ya think?

[Jabberwocky]

"but in the last six Grand Prix no-one scored more points than him," the publication said of the 27-year-old.

Or you could say Hamilton because over 18 races he score the most points!!!!

[darwin dali]

"but in the last six Grand Prix no-one scored more points than him," the publication said of the 27-year-old.

Or you could say Hamilton because over 18 races he score the most points!!!!

Except Renault wasn't competitive in the first half of the season - remember FA brings 0.6 s to the team

[texasmr2]

Rather fair assessment, don't ya think?

Yes it is imo.

[bud]

"but in the last six Grand Prix no-one scored more points than him," the publication said of the 27-year-old.

Or you could say Hamilton because over 18 races he score the most points!!!!

[7UpJordan]

I wouldn't have put Trulli in the top 10. He only drives well when the car was working well, and spent the rest of the time gurning, driving like Philippe Alliot and taking off Bourdais. I rate Glock much higher than Trulli, Glock was excellent when he had a full tank of fuel and used it well at Hockenheim (until that crash) and China.

Bourdais should have been in the top 10, he proved he was not yet another "good Champcar driver but lousy F1 driver" a'la Michael Andretti. He was capable of matching Schumi's protege and even outperformed him at Spa before it started raining and was robbed of a podium.

[Gaz]

You can't say Alonso would of been champion if he was in a ferrari the pressure might of got to him.

He was in the best car in 2007 and he lost to a rookie.

Hamilton is better than Alonso overall based on 07 and 08

[cap-dude]

I think its a fair assessment. Although I think Nico is a fairly forgotten about driver. Poor guy needs to get out of williams.

However, I think Vettel is more deserving of such a title. Considering out of everyone who won a race this year, surely his was the most spectacular, considering 2 factors. That the car he was driving was not racing winning material in slightest, and how little experience he has at the front. Plus the fact he won it 110% on merit.

Still, I understand how Alonso deserves to be hailed as the number 1 driver. He drove supremely all year round, with Japan surely being the stand out drive.

But Heidfeld, I'd expect to a bit lower down. Sure, he did brilliantly in some races, like Silverstone and Spa, but I think Glock and Truili would have done a better job in a BMW.

[f1ea]

Had Fernando been in a Ferrari... no one knows what would have happened. Because he could have also struggled with a torquey and ultra sensitive F2008, he would have been racing a tough teammate and he would have had to deal with ferrari's pit stops and so on....

[Denthúl]

I think its a fair assessment. Although I think Nico is a fairly forgotten about driver. Poor guy needs to get out of williams.

However, I think Vettel is more deserving of such a title. Considering out of everyone who won a race this year, surely his was the most spectacular, considering 2 factors. That the car he was driving was not racing winning material in slightest, and how little experience he has at the front. Plus the fact he won it 110% on merit.

Still, I understand how Alonso deserves to be hailed as the number 1 driver. He drove supremely all year round, with Japan surely being the stand out drive.

But Heidfeld, I'd expect to a bit lower down. Sure, he did brilliantly in some races, like Silverstone and Spa, but I think Glock and Truili would have done a better job in a BMW.

I think people have cast Heidfeld aside after 2008 unfairly. He has beaten the majority of his team-mates, including one who went on to be world champion and another who fought for it right to the end this year. He also trounced Kubica in 2006 and 2007, and wasn't that far behind in 2008. I feel that the only reason he was behind was because of his troubles with the car - had he been able to qualify well, he probably would have beaten Kubica this year, too.

[7UpJordan]

I think its a fair assessment. Although I think Nico is a fairly forgotten about driver. Poor guy needs to get out of williams.

Only if the FW31 isn't any better next year. Nico undid himself in a few races last year, losing his cool at Monaco after having pitted for 3 nosecones he then put it in the wall, at Canada he got caught up in Lewis' pitlane nightmare and at Silverstone he ran into the back of Glock and Patrick Head later revealed Nico was on course to catch and pass Barrichello.

[AKR]

You can't say Alonso would of been champion if he was in a ferrari the pressure might of got to him.

He was in the best car in 2007 and he lost to a rookie.

Hamilton is better than Alonso overall based on 07 and 08

No he isn't. Alonso is better and thus the what the Italian "La Gazzetta dello Sport" says is 100 percent correct without a doubt. And unlike your British papers/press that are so biased towards their own Lewis Hamilton, ie Auto Sport, Alonso is not Italian so thus the assessment is not biased. Alonso is the best driver and had he driven for Ferrari, then he would be world champion. In 2007, I wouldn't really say that Lewis Hamilton winning over Alonso on equal points is anything to rave about, plus McLaren always gave Lewis Hamilton the better treatment. And don't worry I read that book, "Lewis Hamilton, My Story". Lewis Hamilton sure talks up a lot of shiit in it. I bet if Alonso wrote a book about his 2007 McLaren experience a complete different and more accurate story would emerge.

[Rivelution]

I think it is very fair. Cracks me up that the Hamilton fans cant accept it though.

[bud]

I think it is very fair. Cracks me up that the Hamilton fans cant accept it though.

Alonso won 2 races which came down to luck,while Ferrari and McLaren were in the pressure cooker of the title fight Renault were not! sure in the last 6 races alonso might habe scored more but why not include the last 7, 8 or even the last 9 races? There in lies what's important and at the end of the day who was the best driver over the whole season, the one with the most points!

[darwin dali]

I think it is very fair. Cracks me up that the Hamilton fans cant accept it though.

Alonso won 2 races which came down to luck,while Ferrari and McLaren were in the pressure cooker of the title fight Renault were not! sure in the last 6 races alonso might habe scored more but why not include the last 7, 8 or even the last 9 races? There in lies what's important and at the end of the day who was the best driver over the whole season, the one with the most points!

You can't have it both ways: either you go with the most points/championships to decide who's the best driver (LH this season and MS in all of F1 history) or you factor in other qualities as well to come to a more differentiated picture (AS and MS, e.g., or as FB just did a comparison between FA and MS and I'd say in both cases MS comes out on top). Isn't that usually your line of reasoning when claiming AS's superiority?!?