"Fernando Alonso suffers because of his age"

There are those for whom the return of Fernando Alonso to Formula 1 has evoked that of Michael Schumacher. One of them was Nico Rosberg, who was the teammate of the seven-time Mercedes champion. The German recalled how Schumacher suffered due to age during the three years he drove for the German team. When questioned by Fernando Alonso in Sky Sports F1, Nico Rosberg pointed out: “The Alpine is a difficult car to drive and Alonso is not. He is enjoying it ”. “It is a long road for Fernando. Sometimes he flashes, like Michael Schumacher when I was his teammate at Mercedes. It’s difficult for him because of his age, “added the former driver, who now works as a commentator. Even so, Nico Rosberg believes that Alonso can improve his performance:” Fernando is experiencing the same thing as Michael. He has been two years out and it will take him a little time to be at full capacity again ”, he added. The differences between Alonso and Michael Schumacher It should be noted that Fernando Alonso has returned to Formula 1 at the age of 39, while Michael Schumacher did. with 41. The Asturian did so after two years of absence, while the seven-time champion was three away from the tracks before returning to the Gran Circo. Regarding his difficult adaptation, Fernando Alonso recently confessed: I found it a bit more difficult than I had anticipated. Not that he assumed the results were going to come automatically. I knew that preparation was needed, hours in the simulator and the tests in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, I expected that, but I am still struggling to make the most of the car’s potential. “I thought that in three or four races I would be one hundred percent and now I think it will take me eight or nine,” acknowledged the two-time champion.Schumacher’s suffering at Mercedes due to age When it comes to Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula 1, in his first two seasons he failed to get on the podium. Yes he did it in the third, with a third place in the Grand Prix of Europe. However, his best moment at Mercedes came two races earlier, when he claimed pole for the Monaco Grand Prix. Still, because of a previous penalty, he finished sixth. “I felt it for him and I still feel it now; he did not get all the results he deserved given everything he did for the team, “lamented Mercedes’ chief strategy officer weeks ago. James Vowles, who also agreed with Michael Schumacher, commented:” We all wanted him to win. It did not happen. A few years later we couldn’t stop winning and he deserves some of that. Much of the reason we are winning today is because of him, because he made us better. ”James Vowles also made reference to the age issue:“ I had difficulties in how I could drive the car compared to Nico, but he was well aware of that and did what he could to remedy it. But there were areas that were part of the age, in which I could not do anything. ”The reason why Alpine has signed Alonso The truth is that although Michael Schumacher did not have the results they expected in Mercedes, the team gave a step forward thanks to him, becoming the team that has dominated Formula 1 since 2014. With a similar goal, Alpine has signed Fernando Alonso. “In 2021 we will not improve much, but we will improve in 2022. In this phase, having an expert like Fernando is very good for us on a technical and organizational level,” admitted Luca de Meo.“I want to use your experience to help us all grow. He has a different role than he did 15 years ago. He is the godfather of all. The only thing I ask of you is to help us become a leading team “, added the president of the Renault team. Fernando Alonso, for his part, pointed out:” I think the team is renewed, motivated and has the potential to be a team champion in the future. I’m sure of that. I don’t know if it will take two, five or seven years, but we are in a good project and I am enjoying it. ”Alpine, a difficult team Along the same lines as Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso recently explained why he was underperforming Esteban Ocon, alluding to to a peculiarity of the French team. “I remember in the first few races, when Carlos joined Renault, he was not as fast as Hulkenberg. And you could say that Daniel was slower than Nico in 2019, and then he was very good in 2020, his second year. At the same time, Esteban was suffering last year with Daniel and now he is well in his second year, so it seems that it is a team that is a little different from the others and needs a greater adaptation ”, confirmed Fernando Alonso.