Sainz: It’s like Alonso has five or six titles

Fernando Alonso may only have two World titles to his name but Carlos Sainz reckons he will go down as “one of the best in history.”

Alonso won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006 but had several near-misses in the race for the championship.

Racing for Ferrari, he was runner-up to Sebastian Vettel in 2010, 2012 and again in 2013 while his third place in 2007 saw him finish on 109 points.

That tied him on points with Lewis Hamilton with both McLaren drivers a single point short of Kimi Raikkonen’s title-winning tally.

But despite only having two to his name, Toro Rosso driver Sainz feels the Spaniard is the one of the best that Formula 1 has ever seen.

“It’s like he has won five or six [championships],” he told Autosport.

“What he did with that Ferrari those years was something not many people could do and what he is doing with the McLaren is standing out.

“It’s just a number, the World Championships.

“If you ask the whole paddock, everyone agrees he’s one of the best in history.

“Championships depends on the car or being in the right place at the right moment.

“What really makes your career and your respect, like [Ayrton] Senna did, is your performance every year.”

Alonso is racing to finish this season inside the top ten in the standings where he is currently P10, two points ahead of the retiring Felipe Massa.