Fernando Alonso have spent a lifetime in Formula 1. No one in the history of the ‘Great Circus’ has had as long a career as the Asturian. In this 2024 season, they will be 21 campaigns where the Spaniard has been part of the grid since his debut in 2001 with Minardi. There were a total of 378 Grand Prix contested. His passion for motorsports seems endless. At least, in the near future.
“Next year I’ll see how I feel in 24 races. If I have a feeling that I’m not performing as well as I expect myself to, I’ll be the first to raise my hand.. That moment hasn’t come yet,” the two-time champion explained in an interview with Auto Motor undo Sport. “When I signed a three-year contract with McLaren in 2007, I thought: that’s my last contract.”
The best year since 2012
After his return to Formula 1 in 2021, there was a lot of enthusiasm for the Alpine project. However, the reliability of the French cut off all dreams. Alonso then decided to jump into the Aston Martin when those from Silverstone were second slowest on the grid. No one expected the results to be so spectacular. (eight podiums in total) in his first season in the British. In fact, even Fernando himself was not optimistic.
“If I’m honest, I expect to be in the points in 80% of the races, in Q3 in 50 or 60% and maybe get on the podium once if I’m lucky. With two Red Bulls, two Mercedes and two Ferraris, finishing in the top three seemed like an impossible mission. “It’s a new experience for this team that keeps fighting at the front. And we did better than we expected.” Regarding Alpine, Alonso found in Aston Martín “an intense concentration on the desire to win.”
At 42 years old, Fernando has no hesitation in describing the 2023 campaign as his “best season since 2012”.
Consistency, a pending topic for 2024
Alonso’s fourth-place finish in the drivers’ classification is largely understandable for the first half of the year. Aston Martin was initially the second best car on the grid but was overtaken by Mercedes and Ferrari. The Spaniard affirms that these vehicles are not easy to understand.
“These cars are harder to understand because the driver’s reactions are not that clear. Sometimes the balance of the car is not right and you are in third. Other times, you feel comfortable in the car and end up in 14th place. Before, it was more precise,” he expressed in conclusion.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
