“I don’t know him really” - Sebastian Vettel opens up on relationship with Fernando Alonso in F1
Vettel and Alonso went head-to-head for the 2010 and 2012 wo🐽rld championships, with the Red Bull driver coming out on top on both occasions.
The pair’s rivalry was incredibly respectful on track as they nev⭕er c🎀ame to blows during their respective title duels.
Alonso had been previously critical of Vettel for his run of success in the earl♉y 2010s, suggesting that it was down to the Red Bull car built by design guru Adrian Newey, rather than the German’s talents🌳.
With Vettel retiring at the end of 2022, Alonso - to some surprise - w🌌as one tജo praise his former rival, even stating he wouldn’t fight him on the opening lap of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Reflecting on his rivalry with the Spaniard, Vettel recalled his titanic duel with Alon♈so for the 2012 championship.
“I think I admire him as a competitor," Vettel told the Beyond The Grid podcast. “He's probably been the toughest one, especially in [those] first couple of years, and we had [such] close battles at the end of the championships, bo🐻th in 2010 and then 2012, in particular, which 🔥is still probably one of my favourite moments/memories.
“Just the tension coming into the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, that mornin﷽g, that build-up.
“I ♑think that, for me, at least – I don't know for the people who were there, [they] were probably more relaxed – but for me, it was very intense, a🍎nd I think both of us were very nervous."
Vettel conc🌄eded that he and Alonso never got to know each other away from𒐪 the race track.
“I rate Fernando really high as a driver,” he added. “I think he has got so much natural talent, incredible determination, greaꩲt racing instinct, and all of that he hasn't lost. You can see he loves his racing. He's very passionate.
“As a person, though, I don't kno𒉰w him, really. I wouldn't say we don't get along, I think we respect each other. But it's just never happened that we really got to know each other, spend time [toget🙈her] or talk much outside racing.”
With a sharp eye for F1’s controversies and storylines, Connor is the heartbea༺t of our unbiased reporting.
