fIf what Fernando Alonso is saying is correct, then it looks as though predicting this year’s Formula One champion is a no-brainer; it is going to be Fernando Alonso.
To win at Formula One requires a special relationship between man and machine. That is certainly what Jenson Button and his Brawn GP car had during the 2009 season, at least for the first half of the season during which time he laid down sufficient victories to secure the title. Jenson had worked on the development of the car for several years when the team was Honda. The recruitment of Ros Brawn was the catalyst and when he took control of the team following the departure of Honda he was finally able to create a car for Jenson that Jenson described as a monster car.
A similar relationship between man and machine accounted for Lewis Hamilton’s championship win in 2008 and his near win in 2007, his first year in F1. Hamilton had worked with McLaren since he was a boy. He had been the protégé of Ron Dennis, the then team principal, and had more or less grown up with McLaren racing cars. When he stepped up to Formula One, it was apparent from the start that he was at one with his car.
It seems that now a similar relationship is developing between Fernando Alonso and his Ferrari F10. He says that it is the best car that he has ever driven. That he was at home with the car was apparent from the first few laps that drove. In practice the car has not been the fastest on the track, but he said that they had not yet carried out low fuel level testing; all their laps had been with significant fuel levels.
Certainly many pundits think that he is poised to take the championship this year. Odds on this are being offered at 16/5 by BetFred with Lewis Hamilton the second favourite at odds of 5/1.