Luca de Meo’s words in the preview of the Spanish GP and the Spaniard’s dubious performance seriously jeopardize his future in the French team
It takes a lot of courage and a lot of confidence to leave a Formula 1 legend on the street, or at least think about it, and it looks like Alpine is doing it. When Alonso signed for the French team where he won his two titles (under a different name), they promised him a project that would become champion, or at least a candidate, and that was understood as ‘The Plan’. Gradually, the Spanish driver became an almost messianic fisherman of men who won back thousands of fans to the cause, many of them from generations who had not seen him succeed. You just have to see what the Montmeló grandstand was like, which recorded the fourth best attendance in its history for a Spanish GP, despite the extremely intense heat, the organizational and logistical problems and a more than questionable ability to supply the wave of fans who wanted to see their idols live after two years of restrictions.
All this got a pitcher of cold water. The words of Renault group CEO Luca de Meo before the race suddenly came to the minds of the fans: Alpine is not at all clear that Alonso is the right man for their project. “We love Fernando very much. We will have to find a solution for everyone, because we also have Esteban (Ocon) and Oscar (Piastri), who are very good. We want to protect our riders and look for an ideal solution for everyone. I think the work Fernando has done and is doing is incredible,” he said into the DAZN microphone.
With Ocon extended until 2024, the other seat will be between Alonso and Piastri, which Alpine won’t want to miss while at its peak. Successively EuroFormula, F3 and F2 champion, the Australian is a jewel currently wasted on reserve and simulation duties which, while important, do not show us everything this promising runner can give of himself.
Alonso was able to double the points he had so far in Barcelona. In the first five races of the year, he added two and left Montmeló with two more, meaning the Spaniard arrives seventh on the calendar in Monaco, with four in his locker. He is 15th overall, just one point ahead of Albon (Williams), level with Vettel, who missed the first two races of the year, and 26th behind teammate Ocon. If “The Plan” was this, maybe you should come up with a plan B.
In that sense, Alonso should seriously think about what he will do in the coming months. He will be 41 in July and as young and good as he feels on the first day, he has struggled on the tracks for over two decades. It’s normal for him to start thinking about a life outside of racing or at least a championship that requires him to be away from home more than 200 days a year. While he maintains the illusion of the first day, he cannot forget that in Formula 1 he has much more past than future.
Alonso is optimistic and has two or three years to go in the big circus. He has said it many times himself, and his first choice is (was?) to stay with Alpine, a team he knows well and still wants to help achieve excellence. Although it is much slower than expected, there is no denying that the French team is taking slow but sure steps, with some bumps along the way, but without too many jerks. That is why it is difficult to choose what to do.
It is not at all clear to what extent Alpine is capable of kicking Alonso out or is he the one who has the upper hand. The team’s options are clear: if the two-time champion doesn’t follow suit, Piastri is happy to move on. At that point, the player from Oviedo will have to look outside… and there are many conditions to take into account: will there be a gap in another team? Will Vettel and/or Hamilton continue or will they leave gaps in the dubious Aston Martin and the more desirable Mercedes? Is it worth continuing in F1 or is it better to look at other leagues with less media load (and prestige), but that might give you more personal satisfaction?
Be that as it may, the answers to these doubts will be resolved in a few months. Contracts are traditionally signed in Formula 1 in the summer and Alonso already knows what he will do in the future. It will be necessary to see if Alpine is courage… or unconsciousness.
Source: La Verdad
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