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Tarso Marques’ Opinion: Fernando Alonso “Better Than Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher” but With Worse Luck in F1 World Championship
The world of Formula 1 has been home to some of the most talented and iconic drivers in the history of motorsport. Among these legends are names like Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and Fernando Alonso—each of whom has left an indelible mark on the sport. However, Tarso Marques, a Brazilian racing driver who competed in F1 during the early 2000s, recently made a bold statement that Fernando Alonso is “better than Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher” but with “worse luck in the F1 World Championship.”
For many, this claim might sound like an audacious opinion, especially given the immense legacies of Senna and Schumacher. Senna is widely regarded as one of the most gifted and passionate drivers in F1 history, known for his bravery and mastery in qualifying, while Schumacher’s seven World Championships have cemented him as one of the most dominant and successful drivers in the sport. Alonso, though, has been a constant force in Formula 1, often punching above his weight in cars that weren’t always the best on the grid.
Marques’ statement presents an interesting and thought-provoking perspective, one that invites deeper analysis into the careers of these three F1 legends, the nuances of luck in motorsport, and how driver talent can sometimes be overshadowed by external factors.
The Case for Fernando Alonso: Skill, Resilience, and Consistency
Fernando Alonso’s career in Formula 1 is a testament to his exceptional skill, resilience, and ability to get the most out of any car he drives. Making his debut in F1 in 2001 with Minardi, Alonso quickly proved his talent despite being in one of the slower cars on the grid. His breakthrough came in 2003 when he joined Renault, where he secured his first podiums and rapidly established himself as one of the sport’s finest talents.
In 2005, Alonso took the F1 world by storm, securing his first World Championship by defeating the dominant Ferrari team led by Michael Schumacher. He followed this up with another championship in 2006, establishing himself as the first driver in a generation to rival Schumacher’s supremacy. These two titles, both achieved with a Renault team that wasn’t as well-funded or powerful as Ferrari or McLaren at the time, showcased Alonso’s ability to extract maximum performance from a car and his ability to make crucial strategic decisions on the track.
However, Alonso’s career has often been marked by a series of near-misses and moments where circumstances beyond his control prevented him from adding more championships to his tally. Whether it was bad luck with reliability, questionable team decisions, or simply being up against stronger opposition, Alonso has often found himself in positions where success was just out of reach. The most notable of these came in 2007, when he was involved in a fierce intra-team rivalry with Lewis Hamilton at McLaren, which ultimately led to a fractured relationship with the team and a loss of the title to Kimi Räikkönen by just one point.
In 2010 and 2012, Alonso came close to winning the World Championship again with Ferrari, despite driving a car that was not the fastest on the grid. These seasons were defined by Alonso’s ability to outperform the machinery at his disposal, often bringing his Ferrari to the front of the grid and battling against the likes of Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who was dominating F1 at the time. His performances in these years were widely regarded as some of the best of his career, with many pundits and fans alike believing that with a better car, Alonso could have easily added a third or fourth championship to his name.
Alonso’s return to F1 with Alpine (formerly Renault) in 2021 after a two-year hiatus further solidified his reputation as one of the sport’s most gifted and adaptable drivers. Despite being in a mid-tier car, Alonso regularly showcased his speed, racecraft, and consistency, often outperforming younger drivers like Esteban Ocon and securing points finishes that helped keep Alpine in the constructor’s battle.
Ayrton Senna: The Brazilian Legend
Ayrton Senna, a national hero in Brazil, is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers to ever compete in Formula 1. Known for his intense focus, raw talent, and passion for racing, Senna was a driver who could extract the absolute maximum from a car, particularly in qualifying, where he was almost unbeatable. His ability to push a car to its limits, especially in wet conditions, earned him the reputation of being a driver who could perform miracles on the track.
Senna’s rivalry with Alain Prost is one of the most iconic in F1 history, and his three World Championships (1988, 1990, and 1991) cemented his place as one of the sport’s all-time greats. However, Senna’s career was tragically cut short in 1994 when he died during the San Marino Grand Prix in a horrific accident. This tragic event robbed the F1 world of a true legend who had the potential to win many more championships.
Senna’s career, while undeniably exceptional, was also marked by moments of controversy and a lack of consistency in some seasons. For example, in 1992, Senna and his McLaren team struggled against Nigel Mansell’s dominant Williams, while in 1986, Senna’s title challenge was derailed by a series of mechanical failures and incidents. However, Senna’s legendary performances, particularly in qualifying and in the rain, ensured that his legacy was forever etched in the annals of F1 history.
Michael Schumacher: Dominance and Success
Michael Schumacher, the most successful driver in F1 history with seven World Championships, is a benchmark for dominance and consistency. Schumacher’s record of five consecutive titles with Ferrari (2000-2004) is unparalleled, and his work ethic, mental fortitude, and technical skill made him a formidable force in the sport. Schumacher was known for his ruthlessness, his strategic brilliance, and his ability to control every aspect of a race, from qualifying to tire management, to making the most of pit stops.
Much like Senna, Schumacher’s career was marked by periods of dominance and ruthless competitiveness. However, his transition to Ferrari in the early 2000s is perhaps one of his most defining achievements. Schumacher helped turn Ferrari into the dominant force it was during that era, with many attributing his leadership and technical feedback as key to the team’s success. His seven championships (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004) are a testament to his consistency, skill, and ability to build and sustain success.
However, Schumacher’s career was also not without controversy. His aggressive driving style often led to clashes with other drivers, most notably in his infamous collision with Damon Hill in 1994 and his controversial tactics against Jacques Villeneuve in 1997. Additionally, Schumacher’s long reign at Ferrari coincided with a period of dominance where the competition often seemed unable to match his superior car and team setup.
Luck and Opportunity in F1: The Missing Link
One of the key points in Tarso Marques’ assertion is the role of “luck” in F1. Luck, or the lack thereof, has played a significant role in determining the success of any driver, regardless of their talent. For Alonso, his luck—or lack of it—has been a recurring theme throughout his career. From being outperformed by the superior machinery of Red Bull and Ferrari in the late 2000s to his disastrous stint with McLaren in 2007, Alonso’s career has been marked by missed opportunities, poor decisions, and unfortunate circumstances.
Senna’s career was also marked by bad luck at times—particularly in his early years at Toleman and later at McLaren, where his title aspirations were often undone by mechanical failures or mistakes made by his team. Even with his incredible raw speed and talent, Senna could not always secure the title he deserved.
Schumacher, while undoubtedly dominant, also benefitted from consistent reliability and a strong team infrastructure that allowed him to capitalize on the successes of his Ferrari team, especially during the early 2000s. His dominance in this period was aided by a combination of his driving prowess and the technological superiority of Ferrari.
Conclusion: Talent, Luck, and Legacy
In the final analysis, Marques’ statement highlights an interesting debate about the relationship between talent, luck, and success in Formula 1. While Senna and Schumacher are undoubtedly two of the greatest drivers in F1 history, Fernando Alonso’s career has been one of consistent excellence despite often being overshadowed by circumstances beyond his control.
In terms of pure talent, Alonso has often been considered the equal, if not superior, to both Senna and Schumacher. His ability to deliver exceptional performances even in suboptimal machinery is something that places him in the conversation as one of the greatest drivers of all time. However, luck—and the lack of it—has been a critical factor in his inability to secure more World Championships.
In a sport like Formula 1, where everything must fall into place—car, team, strategy, and timing—Alonso’s career has been a study in what might have been, had the stars aligned differently. In the end, the debate about who is “better” between these F1 legends will always be subjective, but Marques’ view of Alonso as a driver with the potential to surpass even Senna and Schumacher, had it not been for bad luck, is a valid one.
