Why Bernie Ecclestone and Nico Rosberg once agreed Fernando Alonso isn’t one of F1’s greatest drivers

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Fernando Alonso has just turned 44 years old and is showing no signs of walking away from Formula 1 any time soon.

Aston Martin have tied Fernando Alonso down to a contract that sees him taking part in another era of Formula 1.

Alonso’s current deal expires at the end of 2026, and he’ll be desperate to have one last opportunity to challenge for race wins.

The Spaniard hasn’t added to his tally of 32 victories in over a decade, but with Adrian Newey working hard behind the scenes and a new Honda power unit arriving, Aston Martin might be more competitive than ever before next year.

Alonso won the second of his two drivers’ championships nearly 20 years ago, and since then, he’s come frustratingly close to adding to his tally, only to be denied by the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.

Rob Smedley said working with Alonso was a ‘miracle’, but also admitted that Ferrari never gave him the car that his talent deserved.

In 2018, Bernie Ecclestone and Nico Rosberg were discussing Alonso’s legacy after another disappointing campaign with McLaren.

They explained why the Spaniard can’t be considered among F1’s greatest drivers, and seven years later, their reasoning is still accurate.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

Bernie Ecclestone and Nico Rosberg explain why Fernando Alonso isn’t one of F1’s greatest drivers

Rosberg was speaking on the Beyond Victory Podcast in 2018, and Alonso was just retiring from F1 for the first time.

It was put to Ecclestone by Rosberg that a debate was ongoing about whether the Spaniard is one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Rosberg said: “I take the view, that if you take him as a pure driver, yeah, he’s one of the greatest of all time.

“But, it takes more than that to be a great Formula 1 driver. And what also comes into it is being a good team player, having good social skills, getting yourself in the right places all the time, getting the great cars to drive so that you can win races and championships.

“And that has been his biggest weakness. So, does that maybe take him away from being one of the greatest of all time?”

Ecclestone responded: “I think what you’re saying is right.

“As a driver, if you leave it to when he’s in the car, sure, he is.

“But, in other areas of the way he’s been, he’s acting, or had to act, and he’s not been the greatest.

“Maybe, he’s had the wrong advice, and sent him up the wrong road.”

READ MORE: Bernie Ecclestone made a Max Verstappen prediction in 2018 that has spectacularly backfired

When Fernando Alonso realised winning a world championship with Ferrari

Alonso has had a fascinating career, but it’s been clear that ever since he left Renault for the first time, he’s failed to join the quickest team on the grid.

Minardi allowed Alonso to impress during his debut season, and it didn’t take long before he was a two-time world champion with Renault.

Alonso’s rivalry with Lewis Hamilton started at McLaren, but it was his time with Ferrari that appeared to be his biggest missed opportunity.

The Spaniard joined Ferrari in 2010 and immediately finished second in the drivers’ championship to Sebastian Vettel.

He suffered the same fate in 2012 and 2013, before Alonso realised he would never win a title with Ferrari.

Rejoining McLaren proved to be a disaster for Alonso in 2015, leading to his initial F1 exit, but spells at Alpine and Aston Martin on his return have only offered him limited opportunities to compete for podiums, let alone race wins.