Alonso: drivers don't respect Minardi

Fernando Alonso may have battled it out at the back of the pack in 2001, but the young Spaniard impressed many in his debut year in F1. His greatest feat was perhaps outqualifying Jacques Villeneuve at the US GP in September, but he's had to rethink his idea of racing.

Speaking to Swiss Magazine Motorpsort Aktuell he said: "I always went to my limits and tried to get the best out of the car. When I was 19th on a Friday, my target for qualifying was P18. Clearly that's still at the end of the field, but each time I was in front of an Arrows or a Prost it was like a victory for the team."

Alonso, who will test for Renault next year, also said some other drivers were dismissive of Minardi on the track. "Many drivers have no respect for Minardi," he explained. "When you are on a flyer during qualifying, there are drivers who don't let you by. That's unfair. I know that in Formula One everybody has to create his own pace, but we can't be discriminated against just because we are in a Minardi." Despite this he believes that his year with Minardi was a positive experience. "It was an advantage," he said. "Even though Minardi has the smallest budget of all the teams, and regarding power we lack at least 80 bhp. But accordingly the pressure is less. For one year I could work in peace. As soon as you manage to jump into the top 10 it is as if you had won a race."

Many think it's likely he will take Jenson Button's race seat in 2003, and have him earmarked as a future champion. Alonso says the benefits of testing will help him develop the car the way he likes it ready for his return to racing. "I couldn't resist Flavio's offer," he said. "On one hand I wanted something secure in the form of a long-term contract, on the other hand I wanted to be in Formula1 as soon as possible. With Flavio I had both. It couldn't have been better!"