Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), double Formula One world champion and one of the great figures in Spanish sports history, will again be one of the great attractions next weekend during the Spanish Grand Prixthe tenth of the World Cup, which will be held at the Montmelo circuit (Barcelona).
In an interview with the EFE Agency that took place at the Circuit Museum that bears the name of the Asturian double world champion, within the framework of an event at Aramco – main sponsor of the Silverstone team -, Alonso commented on various aspects of the Grand Spanish Prix; and gives his opinion on Dutchman Max Verstappen, current F1 dominator, and Englishman Adrian Neweythe stellar engineer of the leading category.
Question: There is a lot of talk about the number 33, but first we must talk about the other 32. And the number 32 came, certainly, in Montmeló (Barcelona); where the eleventh also won. What memories do you have of those two victories?
Answer: Very well. Logically, winning at home is always more special than winning elsewhere. And 32, in Barcelona, I remember it very well. It was a race with many stops, with a lot of degradation… then, I was able to take the Spanish flag on the lap to enter the pits and it was a very exciting weekend, yes.
Q: What do you expect, from a realistic point of view, from the coming weekend in Montmeló?
A: Well, let’s see. It is difficult to assess what can be done, realistically. I guess between eighth and twelve, which is our natural position this year.
Then, when you arrive at your home Grand Prix, with all the fans in front of you and say you hope to finish tenth, right? You always try to keep your hope. That’s to the fans, to you and the team. And therefore it’s normal to dream a little more, right? I hope I have a good result.
Q: Is this the fourth World Cup title for Dutchman Max Verstappen? Or is there another World Cup?
A: No. This will be Verstappen’s fourth World Cup.
Q: So, you don’t see anyone else as likely to take the championship from ‘Mad Max’.
A: No. There will be more race winners: McLaren is strong, Ferrari in many races also seem to have the best car… but across 24 races the least likely to make mistakes are Verstappen and Red Bull.
Q: Last year, you started your first season with Aston Martin with a great run and ended the season with eight podiums. This time, the beginning is not the same.
A: I still hope it will happen. There are 24 races. We’ve only done nine, so it could happen. And I hope the end of the year is strong.
Q: Adrian Newey. How do you like it?
A: I like him very much (laughs).
Q: He is one of the best engineers in F1 history. The creator, among others, of the incomparable cars with which the German Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen won many titles. And now that he’s leaving Red Bull, is there a chance he’ll sign for Aston Martin?
A: It is a fierce rivalry, which helps all the teams to be better; to always seek a better version of ourselves; and now that it is free, on the market, logically we all want, or dream, to have that possibility.
But well, also reading the rumors or what is said, it seems close to Ferrari. So we’ll see. Whatever he decides, he will accept.
Q: What is your relationship with Adrian Newey; If you have it?
A: We have a very respectful relationship. Mutual. He released a book in Spain and he gave me the opportunity to write the prologue. I think we both said publicly that we admired each other; that we fully respect each other’s work. But other than that, I think about very little.
Q: Throughout your brilliant career, you have faced some very good drivers. But his main rival, shall we say it is Adrian Newey?
A: Definitely, definitely (laughs); because during the years when I was at Ferrari, Red Bull was the great dominator, with Vettel and with (the Australian Mark) Webber. Either of them can win you the race.
And this time, the truth is that Verstappen dominates everyone. So Newey is mostly to blame for this, yes.
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.
