Ferrari chief: Alonso’s Valencia victory energizes title push
June 25, 2012 — Updated 1623 GMT (0023 HKT)
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is the only driver to win more than one race in the current Formula One season
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Ferrari president delighted with Fernando Alonso’s victory at the European Grand Prix
- Luca di Montezemolo says Spaniard’s victory can energize Ferrari’s push for F1 title
- Alonso is the first driver to win two races this season after he secured victory in Valencia
- The 30-year-old leads the drivers’ championship by 20 points from Mark Webber
(CNN) — Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo thinks Fernando Alonso’s victory at the European Grand Prix can energize his team’s bid to secure their first drivers’ championship since 2007.
The Spaniard became the first driver to record two wins this season, after the opening seven races of the campaign were won by seven different drivers.
Alonso had started the race in 11th place but worked his way up the field to take the checkered flag and a 20-point lead in the drivers’ championship.
It represented the 30-year-old’s 29th grand prix win and brought with it a ringing endorsement from Ferrari’s president, who hinted the marque were keen to hunt down their first title since Kimi Raikkonen triumphed five years ago.
Alonso reclaim world championship lead in Valencia
Montezemolo told Ferrari’s official website: “An exceptional driver, a competitive car and a perfect team: that is what our victory was made of.
Fernando Alonso’s drive to the top
Fernando Alonso: ‘We will fight’
“I am happy for (team principal) Stefano Domenicali and for all his team who have worked so hard and so well. I want to thank them individually, both for that and for what they are doing to keep improving.
“The championship is long, every race is unpredictable and there is still so much to do. But yesterday’s win is a real adrenaline rush to encourage even more of a push.”
Alonso shared the podium in Valencia with two drivers who are woven deep into Ferrari’s fabric.
Raikkonen, who landed the Italian team’s last title, returned to the sport this year after a spell in the World Rally Championship and claimed second place for Lotus.
Michael Schumacher was third in his Mercedes, the German winning five of his seven world titles with Ferrari, and Montezemolo expressed his pride at seeing all three take top honors in Spain.
“I saw all three champions of ‘my’ Ferrari hugging each other,” he added.
“Thinking back to so many amazing wins in these last 15 years and to the people who have contributed to that — from Michael to Kimi, from (former Ferrari team boss) Jean Todt to the other drivers, from the engineers to the mechanics — I was really touched.”
Alonso won the first of his two career titles for Renault in 2005, breaking Schumacher’s dominance of the sport. He successfully defended his crown the following year.
He now takes his 20-point lead in the championship to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next month, hoping to emulate his victory in the 2011 race.
Part of complete coverage on
June 19, 2012 — Updated 1147 GMT (1947 HKT)
Le Mans is not for the faint-hearted. The legendary French motor race is for the fearless, the global players, the 24-hour party people.
May 31, 2012 — Updated 1605 GMT (0005 HKT)
Ferrari’s championship leader Fernando Alonso tells CNN that Formula One is in danger of becoming a “lottery.”
With five winners from five races, fans and drivers are split on their opinion of the F1 season so far, says Motor Sport magazine’s Ed Foster.
May 24, 2012 — Updated 1616 GMT (0016 HKT)
CNN’s Amanda Davies gets a tour of the Formula 1 track at Monaco by Williams driver Pastor Maldonado.
May 24, 2012 — Updated 1033 GMT (1833 HKT)
CNN’s Amanda Davies follows the Force India team as they set up for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix
May 23, 2012 — Updated 1724 GMT (0124 HKT)
Put simply, there is no other Formula One race to match the glamor and sophistication of the Monaco Grand Prix.
May 22, 2012 — Updated 0915 GMT (1715 HKT)
Take a tour of the street track for the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of the Formula One race.
June 24, 2012 — Updated 2239 GMT (0639 HKT)
The F1 title race will be fought over 20 races this season. Keep track of the latest standings in the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.
CNN profiles the 12 teams and 24 drivers who will be on the starting grid for the 2012 Formula One season.
See the 20 circuits on the calendar for this year’s Formula One action, from Australia in March to Brazil in November.
April 16, 2012 — Updated 1758 GMT (0158 HKT)
It was a case of like father like son for Chinese Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg, who has followed in the footsteps of his famous parent.
April 13, 2012 — Updated 1403 GMT (2203 HKT)
Should sport and politics mix? Bernie Ecclestone has told CNN that they should not — and that is why he is happy for Bahrain to host a Formula One race.
March 19, 2012 — Updated 0939 GMT (1739 HKT)
For even the sport’s most ardent fans, F1 can be confusing — it is governed by a set of ever-evolving rules dominated by talk of technical specifications.
March 24, 2012 — Updated 2020 GMT (0420 HKT)
Maria de Villota becomes the first female to take part in Formula One for 20 years after joining Russian team Marussia as a test driver.
March 15, 2012 — Updated 1232 GMT (2032 HKT)
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a Batmobile-like race car which will take to the track at the legendary Le Mans 24 Hour event in June.
Continue reading -
Recent Comments