It is a rare occurrence for Formula Drivers to heap praiseworthy positives on their toughest rivals — and even rarer for Fernando Alonso to do it.
But the often-sulky Spaniard, notably previously reluctant to hail any talent other than his own, was being generous of spirit at last week's second, pre-season test session in Jerez in his homeland.
Alonso, twice the world champion, who narrowly missed out on a third title last season, was in munificent mood after topping the times in his 2011-spec Ferrari.
And he took time to cite the attributes of the drivers who will surely battle it out as frontrunners in this upcoming championship chase starting in Bahrain next month. Not only that, he amazed his listeners by naming the man we all thought least likely to figure in his admiration assessment as the fastest driver in Grand Prix racing. Compliments indeed from the 29 year old rained down on the men who will be hardest to beat if he is to elevate himself and the Prancing Horse outfit to more winning ways.
What is his rating of the ace who pipped him at the post to clinch the title, the youngest-ever champion at 23, Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull's German wonderboy?
"He is very fast and precise," said Alonso. "And very difficult to stop."
What about Red Bull number two, Aussie Mark Webber? "Experienced, calm and consistent. It is very rare to see him fail," was the answer.
And McLaren's Jenson Button, the champion two years ago? Alonso's answer: "He has a great instinct for difficult races in the rain or when the safety car is on track. This is a unique talent."
The fastest of them all
Comeback legend Michael Schumacher, seven times the world champion, 91 times a winner and now 42, in a second season of three with Mercedes, earned Alonso's praise, too. "He is a champion," he purred,"and we all respect him. He is a driver always capable of springing a surprise."
Of his own teammate, Brazilian Felipe Massa, Alonso's opinion was: "He is very quick, very hungry to win and he knows the team."
So who does he rate as the fastest of them all? "Lewis Hamilton," he responded, "he is a great driver and maybe the fastest in F1 at the moment."
The last is a particularly shock accolade from the man who so publicly and bitterly fell out with Hamilton when they were paired at McLaren and the young Briton was, in Alonso's eyes, so much the favoured driver he quit the team. In keeping with his reputation he was quick to underpin his own popularity, and the jealousy it provokes, by saying: "When I see the admiration I receive all around the world I think it is easier to write on the internet that there are so many people who are anti-Alonso than to write that 30,000 people came to the test to see me."
—The author is a motorsport expert based in England