Schumacher is the best, says Alonso

Published January 08, 2015

By Alan Baldwin

"Looking at the numbers of grand prix wins, pole positions and championships, I think we all agree Michael is the best ever," the Spaniard told a news conference.

"I am happy he is here ... winning a championship or a grand prix with Michael on the track has more value," added Alonso who has joined the Ferrari team that Schumacher once considered a second family.

The German, returning at the age of 41 and after three seasons in retirement, sat next to him like an honored patriarch -- an effect slightly undermined by his glowing fitness and the chewing gum in his mouth.

Behind him sat two more champions, 2008 winner Lewis Hamilton and incumbent and new McLaren team mate Jenson Button, who joked between themselves like a pair of errant schoolboys.

"It's great to have Michael back as it makes me feel young again," joked Button, 30, before leaning forward to tweak the German's shoulders.

The four champions had earlier posed for a group photograph, with Hamilton draping an arm around Schumacher's silver overalls.

OLD MAN ACT

Schumacher, who started out in Formula One in 1991, played up the old man act -- apologizing for missing a question with a smile and the explanation that "at my age you keep forgetting things."

His rivals will pay no attention to that. The German, surrounded by a scrum of reporters and photographers at an earlier Mercedes media appearance, gave every indication he was just as focused and single-minded as ever about racing and winning.

"It's absolutely fantastic for the sport. He's a real edgy character," Red Bull's Mark Webber told reporters in the Sakhir sunshine when asked about the German's return.

"He's done amazing things in his first career, he's coming back for his second career because he's a competitive individual and I take my hat off to him.

"As a competitor you have to admire that. But we won't have the 60 or 70 second victories ... like we did in the past, that's not going to happen. Don't worry," added the Australian.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)

URL

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/schumacher-is-the-best-says-alonso