Formula One world champion
Fernando Alonso cares little about how popular he is with the fans, so long as
he remains a winner.
The Renault driver shrugged off a survey, published this week by the
governing International Automobile Federation (FIA), that saw Ferrari's Michael
Schumacher register four times as many votes in a popularity poll.
"I don't want to be popular at all. I only want to drive the car and to win,"
the Spaniard said in Shanghai yesterday ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix over the
weekend.
The 25-year-old is just two points clear of Schumacher, chasing an eighth
championship before he heads off into retirement, in the title battle with three
races remaining.
While professing indifference about his popularity, Alonso still cared plenty
about a penalty imposed by stewards in Italy three weeks ago that triggered
angry claims that the fight for the championship was being manipulated against
him.
He made it clear that he could never forgive or forget what happened in
Monza.
Demoted from fifth to 10th on the grid by stewards who ruled he had impeded
Ferrari's Felipe Massa in qualifying, Alonso said prior to the race that he no
longer considered Formula One a sport and saw no reason to change that opinion
in Shanghai.
"I think the same (as before)," he said. "When I say something it is because
I think that, not because I am angry or whatever. I feel that, many people feel
that, but nobody says it. Formula One is my job, my life, and I enjoy so much
driving the car. But I still think the same.
"In the other categories there is sport and here there is a little bit of
everything," he added.
"It's a big show, for everybody. A lot of TV cover, a lot of money involved
in Formula One, TV rights and sponsors and everything and the driver is part of
the show. There are always things happening that don't happen in the other
categories of motorsport."
The Spaniard, sounding relaxed and sporting a new mustachioed look, said he
would not let the incident distract him in the title battle.
"I will put it out of my head for this race and the rest of the
championship," he said. "But I will not put out of my head in my career or my
life or ever."
Alonso had told a Spanish radio station that the German "is the man with the
most sanctions and the most unsporting driver in the history of F1."
Schumacher steered away from any controversy when asked to comment Thursday
on Alonso's remarks.
"I don't think I have to react on it," the German said frostily without
elaborating any further.
Alonso said Thursday he had no intention of insulting Schumacher in his radio
remarks.
"Michael still has three races to go. We will talk about him when he retires
and at the moment he is still an F1 driver," Alonso said.
Both Schumacher and Alonso are aware of recent history - not only the last
six races but also the first two Chinese races.
Schumacher has suffered from spins, freak crashes and tire blowouts at the
state-of-the-art 5.451-km Shanghai International Circuit. He came 12th in 2004
and finished dead last in 2005.
"It shouldn't be anything like that this year," Schumacher said. "I was
unfortunate the first year. Last year we were completely out of it with our
tires.
"With what we have seen so far this year, there is no reason why we shouldn't
be competitive."
