Alonso says Schumacher is still his greatest rival

Fernando Alonso has had plenty of battles and a huge number of rivals during his lengthy and successful F1 career, which ended this year as the Spaniard retired from the sport.

Alonso won two world titles, and claims that his rival for these titles, Michael Schumacher, is still his greatest ever competitor in F1.

The duo entertained with a titanic battle in 2006, being level on points with two races to go before Alonso clinched the title with first and second in Japan and Brazil respectively.

Alonso said during his final race weekend in Abu Dhabi: “It’s difficult to choose one, obviously, if I have to say one, it will be Michael.

“Not because any particular reason it was just because when I got to Formula 1 Michael was dominating the sport. [When] you are in go-karts and you see Michael winning, you are different categories, you see Michael winning, and then eventually you find yourself fighting [him] wheel-to-wheel.

“So, those battles were definitely special, or more emotional at that time. I think we had, and probably have right now, the most talented generation. Because all drivers now they are more prepared.”

Alonso believes that the level across the board in F1 is better than it was when he began his career, and added: “They get more time in the simulator, in different young driver programmes, so they go to Formula 1 with a level that was unthinkable a decade or two decades ago.”