user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Honda move may have blown Alonso's career - Villeneuve

Honda move may have blown Alonso's career - Villeneuve

  • Published on 25 Apr 2015 12:05
  • comments 1
  • By: Jeroen Jonkers
Fernando Alonso might have blown his chance of ever winning a third title by switching to McLaren-Honda this year.

That is the claim of 1997 world champion, who said Spaniard Alonso's "early years at Ferrari" was the best driving he has ever seen in formula one.

But he lost patience with the Italian team last year, and is now trailing the field with the burgeoning McLaren-Honda project.

"Leaving Ferrari was clearly a mistake," French Canadian Villeneuve told the Spanish sports daily AS.

"He could have spent three or four more years with them and then retired or gone to McLaren if he wanted to win with them as he did in 2007," he said.

Alonso has defended his move on the basis that, in order to beat Mercedes in the new turbo V6 era, he needed to help McLaren-Honda build up a new project from the ground.

The 33-year-old has also said he doubts Ferrari - although resurgent this year - is ready to win the 2015 title.

But Villeneuve said: "I think Alonso would have fought for the title with this Ferrari."

Alonso, however, says he was happy to take a 'risk' with Honda rather than settle for what could have been more near-successes in a Ferrari.

"With this move," Villeneuve insisted, "Alonso may have ended his career -- he may not win any more titles or even races."

Villeneuve, who raced in F1 with works Honda power for years, says he has little faith the Japanese manufacturer can quickly rise to the front of the grid.

"I worked with them," he said, "and know it can be a very slow culture and one that prevents them from doing certain things." (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Ferrari Mercedes McLaren Honda

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • mclarenfan1968

    Posts: 1,027

    It doesn't matter if we were winning he is still be a bad influence. The sooner he leaves mclaren the better. Mysterious crash and contradicting statements to the press when the team has another version supported by the FIA can't be good for the moral of the team. Alonso has always been a polarizing presence no matter where he went. He is the problem more than anything else. even if he went to Mercedes today that team might lose the title simply by him being a bad influence on the team. Not a team leader, just focusing on polemics and petty "it's all down to me" ego trips that doesn't help the team progress one bit.

    • + 0
    • Apr 26 2015 - 12:12

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
McLaren
666
2
Ferrari
652
3
Red Bull Racing
589
4
Mercedes
468
5
Aston Martin
94
6
Alpine F1
65
7
Haas F1
58
8
Visa Cash App RB
46
9
Williams
17
10
Sauber
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 572
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 168
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Ferrari
Ferrari
Show full profile
show sidebar