Fernando Alonso drives in Formula 41 like a 1-year-old at the age of 20. David Coulthard thinks he knows why the Spaniard has it easier than Schumacher back then.
Monaco – Michael Schumacher won seven world titles in Formula 1, five of them with Ferrari. Fernando Alonso won two with Renault. However, both drivers decided to leave the cockpit after a while in motorsport and came back a few years later! However, while Michael was taking a real break from motorsport, Fernando decided to take part in other motorsport series, such as Indycar.
| Michael Schumacher | |
|---|---|
| Born: | on 3 January 1969 in Hürth |
| World Championship starts in Formula 1: | 307 |
| Last Team: | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team (2010 - 2012) |
| Greatest success: | Seven-time World Champion (1994, 1995, 2000 - 2004) |
Alonso significantly stronger than Schumi after his comeback
According to David Coulthard, this was the crucial difference between the two drivers on their return to Formula 1 and also the reason why Alonso is more successful now than Schumi was with Mercedes. After a four-year break, the German returned to Formula 1 for three years and sat in the cockpit of the German team.
He was then unable to win any more victories and only two podiums. Things have been looking much better for Alonso since his return in 2021 – especially now at Aston Martin. The Spaniard is also driving away from his much younger teammate Lance Stroll this season. After five races, he has already finished third four times – Coulthard knows why it was much easier for Alonso to get back into the cockpit than Schumacher.
Between 1994 and 2008, David Coulthard competed for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull in 246 Grand Prix. © picture alliance/dpa / Erwin Scheriau
David Coulthard: "It was easier for Fernando to keep his sharpness"
In his podcast "Formula For Success" he talked to Eddie Jordan about exactly that. "When Alonso left Formula 1 behind, he competed in endurance races and the Indy 500, he also dared to compete in the Dakar Rally. In addition, he owns a kart track on which he drives regularly. The non-stop racer mode keeps these things awake in his mind. He acts and talks like he's 23 years old!"
"So there was no racing break for Fernando after the apparent departure from Formula 1, he remained a racing driver, and that made it easier for him to keep his sharpness. It was different with Michael. He retired and then there was no motorsport for a while. He was riding a motorcycle, then he got a neck injury and had to take a break." Coulthard is sure that if Schumi had not stopped completely after his exit, then perhaps similar performances as now with Alonso would have been possible. (lhe)
