Alonso playing down the praise

Fernando Alonso is playing down the claims that he is the next Formula One superstar and said he's not yet done anything to merit such approbation. The Renault driver has stirred the Spanish fans into a new excitement about F1 with his first pole ...

Fernando Alonso is playing down the claims that he is the next Formula One superstar and said he's not yet done anything to merit such approbation. The Renault driver has stirred the Spanish fans into a new excitement about F1 with his first pole position and two podium finishes and has earned much praise from his team. But he shrugs off the future champion opinions.

Fernando Alonso.

Photo by Renault F1.

"It's not time to think about such things," he said. "I'm 21, and at the moment no-one needs to remind me I have only two podiums. I don't feel I'm in the history books of F1. I've done nothing. I have to do good things to win races, titles, but it's not something I worry about right now. I have time."

Racing in front of his home crowd in Spain this weekend is obviously going to be a special occasion: "This is obviously a very important race. It's a special feeling to be racing in front of my home fans," he told Autosport.

"It means a lot to me to know that people around the circuit are concentrating on me. I think that every driver tries to do a little bit more for their home race, and it is no different for me. A good result here this weekend would be very special indeed."

Spanish popular sports have mostly been football and motorbike racing but Alonso is turning fans to F1. While Fernando does not consider himself as setting an example, he's happy that his country is enjoying his success.

"It's true that no Spanish driver ever had a chance to be in a great team and do good things," he commented. "I am the first and people seem to be enjoying that and taking it seriously. F1 can be a great sport in Spain."