Bojan Vrbnjak
Fernando Alonso is after Kimi Raikkonen the second oldest racer in the current Formula 1 field round anniversaries (The Spaniard turned 40) a few weeks ago, the two-time world champion recalled his long career and also talked about his last title match with Michael Schumacher.
After it is Alonso leta 2005 won his first championship title with Renault, also fought for the title in the season that followed. His main rival, however, was Michael Schumacher, which is s Ferrari reigned in Formula 1 between 2000 and 2004. After German in Suzuki resigned due to engine failure, is before the last race of the season in Interlagos ten points behind the Spaniard. With this, he had only minimal chances, because according to the scoring system at the time, the winner received ten points. “Michael had to win and hope I would resign. So I had a good chance to win the title. At the time, it was also Michael’s last race, as he announced his retirement."
Po technical difficulties on qualifications, is Schumacher he started the race only from the tenth place, but he started the race with a strong performance and in the meantime fifth place. When overtaking Giancarlo Fisichella he damaged his tire, fell to the rear, but finished the race with an outstanding run on fourth place. Alonso, who finished the race second, thus won his own second title in a row. Michael, however, withdrew from Formula 1 for years 2010 did not return with the team Mercedes, where he raced unsuccessfully for three seasons.
"Michael is a sports legend,”He says today Alonso, who sees the seven - time world champion as role model and competitor. "I learned so much from him, in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. And then, in 2005 and 2006, we fought bike by bike. You have to respect Michael in a different way than any other racer. These moments of shaking hands with him and things like that are the same as relief. We fought each other on the track, but under that red helmet there was still a man."
