Brawn 'extremely frustrated' to see Alonso talent wasted

©McLaren

Like the majority of F1 fans, Ross Brawn laments Fernando Alonso's lack of a competitive car and the incredible waste of talent produced by the Spaniard's quandaries.

Alonso's fate in the past three years has been intimately linked to Honda's inability to deliver a competitive power unit to its McLaren partner.

The end result is a two-time world champion and one of F1's most gifted drivers who lingers at the bottom of the grid through no fault of his own, much to Brawn's chagrin.

"Fernando is a fabulous driver, one of the best of his generation, but he has been neutered by an uncompetitive car," Brawn told The Telegraph.

"That’s extremely frustrating for us, especially in our position, as he cannot show his true potential. It’s the downside of a car being a factor in the competition.

"If the car’s not right, talents of the strength and magnificence of Alonso get wasted. It’s a fine line."

Hamilton blasted for snubbing London F1 Live event

On the subject of the ferocious duel between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, Brawn wasn't surprised by the duo's run-in in Baku, just that it hadn't happened earlier.

"I was amazed at how long the romance carried on," he says.

"Normally, in that intensity of competition, it gets fractious. Finally, that’s what has happened. It’s wonderful to watch."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.