`Champion drivers have this incredible self esteem`
Fernando Alonso is the ideal driver to take over from reigning world champion Michael Schumacher at the summit of Formula One, according to the mentor of both drivers, Pat Symonds.
Symonds helped steer Schumacher to his first world championship, in 1994 with Benetton, and is now mentoring the man who will become the youngest driver to win the world title if he succeeds this weekend. Alonso`s performances this year have already ensured Schumacher cannot retain his crown and the Spaniard needs just a podium finish in Sunday`s Brazilian Grand Prix to secure the title.
His consistency has been impressive this year. He made only one mistake in the Canadian Grand Prix when he collided with a barrier during the race, and Symonds believes he is perfect to step up and take the Formula One title.
"He really is excellent," said Symonds, technical chief of the Renault team. "You would expect me to say that, but I have worked with many champions before and he has many of the same characteristics. I think the thing that is surprising and is a real compliment to him is that one forgets his age, because the maturity he shows is well beyond his age, even the time he has been in Formula One, which is not long. You just forget about it. It is like you are dealing with a guy who has a destiny, he knows that destiny and he is totally comfortable with it. He is a very intelligent guy."
"He is particularly good at reading a race, looking after equipment, in the same way that Michael is. He knows when to go fast and when to reel it back a bit. He has a very good understanding of the tactics needed in the race. He enjoys it, and I think that is always refreshing. He really is a good guy to work with and if he achieves the championship as we hope and expect he will I think he will thoroughly deserve to take Michael`s crown."
Symonds is well positioned to judge Alonso, having helped steer Schumacher to his first world title and he believes the Spaniard has shown all the qualities shown by Schumacher in his early years. Symonds worked with Schumacher just months after he made his Formula One debut but he got a good idea of what made the seven-time world champion tick and is keen to make Alonso an even bigger success.
Symonds added: "When you look at these people, a year in Formula One is a long time and ten years is an eternity, so it is sometimes a little bit different to draw comparisons in every area. But what we require of a driver technically these days is slightly different to what we wanted ten years ago and very, very different to what we wanted 20 years ago. So, I think you have to look a little bit outside the technical aspect and look at the human aspect of these people. I think champion drivers are just like champions in any sport."
"Champion drivers have this incredible self esteem, self confidence and this ability to set themselves targets. They are realistic but difficult to achieve targets but they achieve them time and time again. That is what I see with Fernando and it is equally that is what I have seen in other Formula One world champions and I am quite sure you see it in all top sportsmen."


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