Brown: 'Awesome' Ricciardo a match for Alonso over a single lap

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Zak Brown believes future McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo would be a match for the Woking-based outfit's former charger and F1 2021 returnee Fernando Alonso over a single lap.

In a video cast on YouTube with veteran F1 journalist Peter Windsor, Brown vaunted Alonso's outstanding talent which he oversaw during two years at McLaren, insisting the Spaniard will be a tough opponent next year with Renault.

But Brown also highlighted the skills of his team's 2021 recruit when asked who between Ricciardo and Alonso would prove the faster driver over a single lap.

"Fernando, I think, scores himself nine out of 10 on everything," Brown told Windsor. "Daniel is awesome over a single lap and awesome over a race distance. I see a lot of aggression in Daniel.

"Until you have them both in the same car at the same time I don’t think we’ll ever know.

"But I don’t think there’s anyone faster than Daniel at the moment, so I’ll say maybe it’s a tie. But I’m rooting for my guy now."

McLaren came close to glory this year at the Italian Grand Prix where Carlos Sainz was one lap short from snatching a sensational win from AlphaTauri's Pierre Gasly.

Read also: 'Fierce' Alonso will be tough to beat at Renault - Brown

Asked whether the race would have had a different outcome had Ricciardo been in the McLaren in the closing laps at Monza, Brown says he doubted anyone could have surpassed impeccable performance at the Temple of Speed.

"If I look at Carlos as a racer, he and Lando both are great starters," the American replied. "Carlos is really the best in the field. Carlos goes forward.

"I don’t think there’s much more anyone could have done [at Monza] other than just totally launched it up the inside.

"But then we’ve told Carlos and Lando ‘please race for the team’, so I think while anyone can chuck it up the inside and hope for the best, we would have been thoroughly disappointed with a DNF when there was a second there for the taking."

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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.