Briatore denies Alonso rumors

Since Fernando Alonso debuted in Formula 1 in 2001, so much has happened that summarizing the sporting career of the driver with the most races in the top category could fill a very, very extensive book.

And it is that the Asturian, in addition to being long-lasting, has always been one of the drivers who has polarized the opinion about him the most. His debut with Minardi went largely unnoticed, but already at Renault he began to be the subject of controversies. And even more so at McLaren, his second stint with the French brand and, later, with Ferrari.

There were also notable events at McLaren-Honda and Alpine, although things have gone much more smoothly at Aston Martin. And that is precisely what Flavio Briatore, probably the person who knows him best in Formula 1, has taken advantage of to defend the two-time world champion.

"He is like a Rottweiler, he is there all the time"

Alonso put F1 on the map of Spain

Flavio Briatore, now executive advisor of Alpine F1, noticed Fernando Alonso during his debut season in Formula 3000 in 2000. Immediately, he placed him in Minardi for the following season as a bridge to a future arrival at Renault.

And when that happened in 2003, the passion for Formula 1 in Spain multiplied in unimaginable ways. "Fernando was everything there. In Spain, there had never been a great Formula 1 driver". When we brought him in, Formula 1 was not televised. Only motorcycles. He changed that," Briatore recounts.

"As soon as we put him in Minardi, it was incredible," he adds, before explaining why Alonso had to spend 2002 on the bench as a reserve driver for Renault. "After that, we had a contract with Jenson Button. I didn't renew it, I put Fernando in the car and all the press in the UK was really angry. I told the press: 'Calm down, time will tell if I'm right or not'. I was right."

Alonso, a headache for his teams

Soon Fernando Alonso's shyness began to transform into determination and a very strong personality. Already at Renault, the Asturian was critical of his team on some occasions. And when he arrived at McLaren in 2007 as a two-time world champion, his clash with Lewis Hamilton and Ron Dennis led the British press to create a very negative image of him.

His time at Ferrari didn't help him in that regard either, and when he returned to McLaren in 2014 to lead the project with Honda, the criticisms of the Japanese further solidified his reputation as a difficult driver.

However, a version that Flavio Briatore firmly denies, and which former teammates like Jarno Trulli, Giancarlo Fisichella, or Jenson Button have endorsed (although not others like Felipe Massa).

"Sometimes people said in the news that Fernando was difficult to manage, but it's nothing more than a bunch of nonsense, really," Briatore assures. "I get completely angry every time I hear this. Fernando is always a team player, he always makes everyone work together."

"The manifestation is now taking place at Aston Martin". The car is not competitive, but he is always there, pushing. Everyone knows what he needs," reiterates who is now his rival at Alpine.

Finally, Flavio Briatore emphasizes that Fernando Alonso never gives up, as his commitment and determination are unbreakable. "He is like a Rottweiler, he is there all the time". You go to a place and the Rottweiler bites you all the time. That is Fernando. That is how he wants to win," he concludes.

It is undeniable that the Fernando Alonso we know now is very different from the one who started his meteoric career in Formula 1. More than two decades later, the Asturian is much more mature and aware of the role each one plays in the Grand Circus. It is likely, therefore, that all parties are right, right?

Fuente: ESPN