McLaren Boss Explains What Advantage Fernando Alonso Has Over Michael Schumacher’s Abilities

Andrea Stella is currently the team principal at McLaren, but between 2000 and 2014, worked for Scuderia Ferrari in different positions. Having closely worked with both Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher during his stint, he feels there are some striking similarities between the two legendary drivers.

Schumacher is arguably the best Ferrari driver of all time, winning five championships with the Maranello-based team. Alonso meanwhile, was driving for them in a period when the ship was not sailing smoothly in the Scuderia. Despite his best efforts, he wasn’t able to win a world championship with Ferrari, but Stella thinks he can go up on Schumacher.

In an unearthed video dating back to his Ferrari days, Stella looks back on a picture of Kimi Raikkonen, Alonso, and Schumacher on the podium in Valencia. He then goes on to point out the strengths and weaknesses of each driver, starting with Schumacher.  However, when the time comes to talk about Alonso, he simply says that his biggest strength is that, he has no weakness.

Fernando Alonso was better than Michael Schumacher?

While talking about Schumacher, Stella reveals that the German was incredibly good on race days. He had the ability to keep the rear of the car under his control, which allowed him to be as good as he was. However, Stella points out that Schumacher was ‘sometimes a bit too aggressive’. This was costing them points in some races.

Alonso meanwhile, did not show any signs of weakness, as per Stella. The Italian described Alonso as someone who was incredibly strong, irrespective of the condition of the car or the track. He was in charge when the track was dry, or even under extreme wet conditions.

“Outside the car, he is very constant, very solid mentally,” Stella adds. “Which I think is very important in modern Formula 1. The only aspect of Alonso’s approach Stelle would have liked better was his habit of “operating within limits” which the now McLaren boss feels he has improved on.

What did Stella say about Kimi Raikkonen?

Raikkonen may not be quite up there with the likes of Alonso and Schumacher in terms of statistics, but till this date, remains Ferrari’s last world champion. While pointing out Raikkonen’ strengths and weaknesses, Stella feels that Raikkonen was very quick in a particular window.

However, the downside of his strength was, he wasn’t quite as quick outside the window. Stella feels that had Raikkonen been consistently quick, he could have won more races and potentially more world championships.