Highlights
Series
Explore
 |
Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli, friends and former teammates, are locked in battle. Their respective teams, Renault and Toyota, are fighting for fourth place in the constructors' championship, worth around $10 million to whichever of them secures the position (assuming it's not Red Bull or Toro Rosso). It's bringing a focus onto the efforts of their lead drivers. In 2004 at Renault, Trulli went bat-to-bat with Alonso in the first half of the season before his form slid in synch with his deteriorating relationship with team boss - and Alonso's manager - Flavio Briatore. As Alonso went on to a much stronger second half, Trulli's rapport with the team broke down and he was driving a Toyota before the season was over. He's remained there ever since, in the years when his career might have been in full bloom had he been in a front-running car. But he's been resolute in how he's applied himself. This and an ability to conjure that special qualifying lap did for the F1 career of Ralf Schumacher, leaving Jarno as de facto team leader. His bitterness about his treatment by Briatore is never far from the surface. He was delighted at taking third in France this year: it was here that he lost third place at the penultimate corner in '04, a small error that he feels Briatore used to justify an agenda to be rid of him and his rivalry with Alonso. You might think the link between those races - '04 and '08 - would not be made by a driver, would just be a bit of coincidence that onlookers might ponder. But Jarno makes that link. He even termed it 'revenge'. © 2020 Autosport
In the magazine: Wheldon the Lionheart In AUTOSPORT magazine this week, we reflect on the life of Dan Wheldon with those who knew him best, and remember the day, just a month before his death, when he showed off IndyCar's staircase of talent Mag 
MPH: Mark Hughes on... A law that invariably applies in racing: the genie will not go back into the bottle once released F1 
MPH: Mark Hughes on... Competitors entering motorsport are getting ever-younger - but are even the youngest missing out on a crucial age in physiological development? F1 
MPH: Mark Hughes on... So, team orders failed to secure the world championship for Fernando Alonso. But neither he, nor the Ferrari team, can function happily – or truly effectively – any other way F1
Read more features by Autosport magazine.
Subscribe to Autosport Plus
How binge-watching is helping Ocon prepare for F1's returning star After a year out of a race seat, the 2020 F1 season hasn't all been plain sailing for Renault's Esteban Ocon. But, with Daniel Ricciardo's departure, Ocon has the chance to become a team leader next year - even if his new team-mate will be Fernando Alonso F1 
The wrong kind of bafflement and surprise in UK motorsport You can always rely on national motorsport to be unpredictable but some occurrences in recent weeks have been bewildering - and not in a good way, says STEPHEN LICKORISH F1 
Why F1's Portugal leveller isn't a reliable silver bullet A track surface that was reluctant to yield grip left many drivers complaining in Portimao, but created mixed strategies and havoc at the start. Yet, while an enjoyable means of mixing the pack, F1 cannot always rely on it F1 
The surprise weakness Hamilton revealed in his Portugal win Lewis Hamilton produced another excellent overall Formula 1 performance to defeat an in-form Valtteri Bottas in Portugal. But towards the end of race he had a difficult moment, which revealed a surprising weakness in his otherwise bulletproof game F1 
Please note that unauthorised reproduction or translation of any content (including words, data, information, photos, videos and any other intellectual property) published on this page and any other copyrighted content published on Autosport.com is strictly prohibited. Please see our terms and conditions for further information. |
