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Patrick Faure said the 21-year-old's fighting drive with an oppressive fever in Malaysia - culminating in pole position and a maiden podium - hinted shades of the kind of determination represented by one of F1's greatest ever.
Team principal Flavio Briatore reckons the youngster is all set to follow in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher.
But Faure, the Frenchman, says Alonso reminds him of another driver who had an unlimited determination, right from the start of his career.
'He never deviated from it,' Patrick says - 'Ayrton Senna.'
Alonso became the youngest ace, and first Spaniard, to blitz the front row of the grid in Sepang before leading the opening stint of the Malaysian race in its heat and humidity.
To top it all, Fernando didn't feel well and nearly collapsed when he emerged from his R23 racer in parc ferme after 56 laps.
'I knew he was a bit ill,' said Patrick Faure, 'so I was a bit worried.
'At Sepang, the heat is unbelievable, and the humidity is awful. The lad was suffering but he is so determined.'
Faure travels often to the Formula One races and spent a lot of time with a notably frustrated Fernando Alonso in the racing garage last year.
At the seventeen 2002 grands prix, Fernando watched on as no more than racing reserve and test driver. 'I saw him and chatted to him a lot,' says the French marque's President.
'At only 21 years of age, this lad has a great deal of self-confidence. It was as if, when he looked at the other drivers, he was saying, 'I could do better than them.'
'You could tell, it was obvious.'
Alonso left his family and home-town of Ovierdo at just thirteen years of age to go racing in Italy. 'He hasn't had an easy life so far,' Faure continues.
'He has really earned his place in a Formula One car with a top team through his will-power, his strength and his energy.'
Faure says Fernando wants the world drivers' championship within three years.
Team principal Flavio Briatore reckons the youngster is all set to follow in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher.
But Faure, the Frenchman, says Alonso reminds him of another driver who had an unlimited determination, right from the start of his career.
'He never deviated from it,' Patrick says - 'Ayrton Senna.'
Alonso became the youngest ace, and first Spaniard, to blitz the front row of the grid in Sepang before leading the opening stint of the Malaysian race in its heat and humidity.
To top it all, Fernando didn't feel well and nearly collapsed when he emerged from his R23 racer in parc ferme after 56 laps.
'I knew he was a bit ill,' said Patrick Faure, 'so I was a bit worried.
'At Sepang, the heat is unbelievable, and the humidity is awful. The lad was suffering but he is so determined.'
Faure travels often to the Formula One races and spent a lot of time with a notably frustrated Fernando Alonso in the racing garage last year.
At the seventeen 2002 grands prix, Fernando watched on as no more than racing reserve and test driver. 'I saw him and chatted to him a lot,' says the French marque's President.
'At only 21 years of age, this lad has a great deal of self-confidence. It was as if, when he looked at the other drivers, he was saying, 'I could do better than them.'
'You could tell, it was obvious.'
Alonso left his family and home-town of Ovierdo at just thirteen years of age to go racing in Italy. 'He hasn't had an easy life so far,' Faure continues.
'He has really earned his place in a Formula One car with a top team through his will-power, his strength and his energy.'
Faure says Fernando wants the world drivers' championship within three years.