“This season is the best I’ve ever done in my life,” he is quoted as answering emphatically to the Spanish sports daily AS.
Alonso was asked if he finds offensive the suggestions his Ferrari career has been a failure so far.
“I don’t care about that,” said the former back-to-back Renault world champion, “but I think it’s strange to be asked about it because, without a doubt, 2010 and especially 2011 have been the best.
“It has been something difficult to repeat; finishing most of the races, doing incredible laptimes, fantastic starts, great pitstops, successful strategies, podiums, a grand prix win.
“Of course we all want to fight for the title, but when you cannot you have to accept where the others have been better.”
By that rationale, Alonso thinks that if he had a Red Bull, he would have won the titles just as Sebastian Vettel has.
So would he swap places with the German?
“No, no, no,” started Alonso, “I am in my dream team even though it is true that we are now in a dead heat, with two titles each.
“But if I look into the future for the next five years, I would rather be where I am than where he is.”
Alonso visibly rankled when it was suggested that he failed to beat Lewis Hamilton at McLaren in 2007, but he also praised Jenson Button for emphatically doing so in 2011.
“We know about his talent and how fast he is and he has done a fantastic championship,” said Alonso. “Perhaps we have had a Hamilton less brilliant than in the other years and that combination has the result (in 2011).”
Finally, he disagrees with his manager Flavio Briatore that 2012 will be another walkover for Red Bull.
“That’s what was believed when it seemed that Hamilton would win ten years in a row, and the same with Button and Brawn who apparently found the magic formula.
“Now Red Bull has won in two years and everyone thinks they will win 20 more, but it will not happen,” said Alonso confidently.
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