'I faced Michael Schumacher in F1 – the sport’s greatest driver isn’t him or Ayrton Senna'

Michael Schumacher is yet to beryllium surpassed by anybody successful Formula One, but 1 erstwhile operator has picked their ex-team-mate implicit the Ferrari legend

Ex-Minardi ace Tarso Marques has placed Fernando Alonso supra the likes of Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton.

Marques, 48, was Alonso's spouse erstwhile the Spaniard was astatine the commencement of his F1 journey. He was determination to ticker the present Aston Martin operator alteration from a talented, but earthy youngster, into the world-class operator who would yet triumph 2 satellite championships with Renault.

While the FIA World Drivers' Championship rubric has evaded him since his past rubric triumph successful 2006, Alonso is inactive competing powerfully today. He is 1 of fewer drivers to adjacent the spread connected Schumacher and pip the German to the championship.

The legendary Ferrari operator is inactive considered to beryllium the top of each time, having won 7 satellite titles passim his storied career. Yet, Marques is 1 of the fewer who bash not stock this sentiment and believes his erstwhile team-mate was amended than the likes of Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.

Speaking with Aston Martin, the Brazilian said: "I americium an Ayrton Senna instrumentality similar each Brazilians, and determination are caller legends similar Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and present Max Verstappen, and it's precise hard to comparison drivers crossed eras, but I deliberation Fernando is arsenic bully arsenic them oregon better.

"If I had to prime 1 operator for my team, I would take Fernando. I deliberation helium was amended than Schumacher erstwhile they raced against each different and, Brazilians volition get upset, I would accidental he's amended than Senna too.

"Senna was amazing, a earthy talent, but the information is that helium utilized to marque much mistakes than Fernando. Fernando learned rapidly however to thrust a contention not conscionable accelerated but intelligently thing I would accidental of Hamilton too.

"Fernando's astir apt the greatest, on with Hamilton. I deliberation Fernando should beryllium connected his level successful fig of titles helium conscionable hasn't had the close car astatine times.

"I deliberation helium deserves much titles than helium has. Those 2 world titles are great, but it's not a existent reflection of his talent. He should person overmuch much than that."

Next twelvemonth volition beryllium the 20-year day of his first-ever satellite title triumph. He pipped Kimi Raikkonen and Schumacher to the title, finishing 21 points up of the former.

Marques thinks Alonso would person won adjacent much if helium drove a much competitory car. The South American added: "The car has to beryllium bully enough, but Fernando is inactive showing helium tin bushed anyone with the close equipment.

"F1 is hard to predict, particularly arsenic the rules and regulations alteration truthful often, but helium has shown astatine Aston Martin Aramco what helium tin inactive do. 2023 was a large twelvemonth and I was expecting a triumph due to the fact that helium was coming truthful close. The aboriginal is looking precise promising for Aston Martin Aramco. Adrian Newey joining the squad is massive.

"It volition evidently beryllium a situation to enactment everything unneurotic the close mode immediately, but present Aston Martin Aramco has a beardown operator pairing successful Lance and Fernando combined with the champion decorator successful F1 the squad has a superb package. And I deliberation Adrian's accomplishment could support Fernando successful F1 for longer. He inactive has the gait truthful I'm definite with a speedy car it volition motivate him to support going for a mates much years yet. It could beryllium amazing."