14 Jan 2011

Alonso picks Schumacher as major 2011 rival

7:55 am on 14 January 2011

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso says Michael Schumacher could be his biggest threat in the 2011 Formula One season despite the German's struggles on his comeback with Mercedes last year.

The 2005 and 2006 champion says there will be five world champions on the track and the most dangerous champion for him, is always the 42-year-old German

Alonso says the seven time world champion is still super class and if the car is right he will be a contender.

Schumacher finished ninth last year in his first season since retiring at the end of 2006, will be joined on the grid by Alonso and current title holder Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and McLaren's two former champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.