Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso replaced Kimi Raikkonen at Ferrari in 2010. In this picture, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari's Spanish driver Alonso celebrate in the parc ferme after the qualifying session at the Silverstone circuit ahead of the British Formula One Grand Prix, July 7, 2012. DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/GettyImages

Stefano Domenicali insists that Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher have a lot in common despite the difference between the amount of success they had in Formula 1, especially at Ferrari.

The Ex-Ferrari team principal worked with both the drivers during his 19-year tenure with the Italian car manufacturer, but Schumacher and Alonso were part of the team during completely different periods.

Domenicali was the team manager at Ferrari between 1996 and 2006 reporting directly to then-team principal Jean Todt and it was one of the most successful periods in the Italian team’s F1 history as they were unbeatable between 2000 and 2004, when they won consecutive Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships with Schumacher.

Domenicali took over Todt’s position in 2007 and immediately led Ferrari to the Constructors’ title in 2008. He remained at the helm from 2008 to 2014 with Alonso joining the team during his reign in 2010.

The Spaniard failed to replicate the success achieved by Schumacher, as he managed just 10 race wins in five seasons with the team. But former Ferrari chief, who is now the CEO of rival Italian car manufacturer Lamborghini, believes it is not fair to compare the two based on the numbers.

Alonso was driving a far inferior car compared to Schumacher’s all conquering Ferrari with Red Bull being the dominant team in F1 during his stint. Despite an underperforming car, he came close to winning the championship on two occasions in 2010 and 2012, but was unable to take it over the line with the team having only themselves to blame for poor strategy calls.

"I rate Fernando an incredible driver," Domenicali said, according to F1i.com. "I would say, as always, in terms of numbers, Michael. But Fernando… don’t forget that he was able to win and he was able to get closer to be very successful also with Ferrari.”

“The difference from these two periods is from one side [with Schumacher] we had the best team ever in terms of positions in all the roles, in terms of performance, in terms of drivers," he explained. "When Fernando was with Felipe [Massa] the car, unfortunately, was not the best for a lot of reasons and, despite that, we were able to get close to win championships. I would say very unlucky we didn’t win 2010 and 2012 for two different reasons.”

Alonso is still active in F1 currently driving for the McLaren team, while Schumacher is currently recovering from a severe head injury he suffered while skiing in 2013, the same year he retired from the sport for the second time after a three-season stint with Mercedes.

The Spaniard is also leaving F1 at the end of the season as he searches for new challenges in other forms of motor racing. Alonso is targeting the Triple Crown, which entails winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the LeMans 24-hours race and the Indy500.

The double F1 world champion has ticked the first two boxes and is now eager to become only the second driver to win the fabled Triple Crown after Graham Hill. Domenicali hopes Alonso is successful in his quest and admits it would have been nice to see him and Schumacher race each other on the same machinery to find out who was the best.

"In my view, first of all, Michael has finished his career, Fernando not yet, so let’s see if he will be able to win the so-called ‘Triple Crown’,” Domenicali added. "I hope for him he can do it. But for sure it would have been nice to see them competing with the same car to see who was the best."

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