Bernie wants a Rossi

(GMM) Bernie Ecclestone was 'unfair' to criticize Fernando Alonso for not doing enough as world champion.

That is the belief of formula one's title winner of ten years ago, England's Damon Hill, who instead shifted the blame onto F1 for producing bland drivers.

Hill told Reuters: ''But I understand what Bernie's saying — I think he is saying why can't Fernando Alonso be more like Valentino Rossi.''

Indeed, the Bernie-Rossi connection is pretty sound. F1's supremo is desperate for a larger-than-life character in the MotoGP champion's mould, and is actively urging Ferrari or another team to help Rossi make the switch.

Notably, at the Laureus awards on Monday night, Rossi took his 'Spirit of Sport' prize – for raising the profile of the motorcycling series – from Ecclestone himself.

But Hill said that in ultra-professional F1, doing-a-Rossi is harder.

The 45-year-old continued: ''To win at this level requires total dedication (but that) does not bring about a well-rounded personality.''