Formula 1 news

Alonso 'style' under fire

F1 title leader Fernando Alonso has responded to claims he is 'hyper reliant' on the electronics of his Renault car. Craig Pollock, BAR team founder and manager of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, referred to the young Spaniard's fierce driving style.

"He can get away with it," Craig told the USA Today newspaper, "because the electronics correct mistakes."

Minardi's Paul Stoddart, who gave a teenage Alonso his first F1 seat in 2001, was the first to defend the 23-year-old and four-time 2005 winner.

He called Fernando Alonso the 'most naturally talented driver' he's ever worked with. And, even with traction control, Stoddart continued: "It still takes a lot of guts and grit to thunder along at 270kmh."

Alonso insisted: "If we talk about traction control, ok, it's a help, but it's not as easy as it seems, probably."

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• 16 Mar.
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• 15 Mar.
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