Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso, 41, has proven that despite being the oldest driver on the grid, he remains at the pinnacle of ability throughout the 2022 season. It’s his natural talent plus the benefits of experience he’s cultivated throughout his career.
This summer, he signed a multi-year contract with the Aston Martin F1 team and announced a shock transfer in 2023, blowing away the F1 driver market.
Its roots lie in the ability Fernando Alonso continues to show on the circuit. One aspect that has been particularly fascinating this year is observing the attention to detail when it comes to finding every possible competitive advantage.
At the Austrian Grand Prix, for example, he famously spent time cleaning the grid slots during Saturday morning’s free practice session. Unfortunately his car didn’t get the start in the sprint, but the action was meant to give him a better start later.
But this is not the only time Fernando Alonso has tried to gain the upper hand.
During the lap to the grid before the French Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso was driving very slowly out of the pitlane by himself. As he slowed, he made a sharp left turn at the end to clear the track and put rubber on the inside of Turn 1 and the outside of Turn 2.
Fernando Alonso had planned to overtake people on that line from the start, but other drivers speculated that that part of the circuit was too dirty. Alonso got off to a great start, passing both Lando Norris and George Russell on the track he had cleaned a few minutes earlier.
Fernando Alonso confesses that he takes great pleasure in getting those little moments noticed, and it all comes down to exploiting one’s own strengths while trying to exploit the weaknesses of others. It’s part of the strong competitive edge we have.
“I’m that type of guy,” Fernando Alonso smiled.
“I have to make my stuff 100% and kill whatever strengths other people have. But that’s what I do in everything I do when I play something.”
“I used to play tennis a lot, and when I played with good people, I would put the ball very high. They’re used to hitting the ball hard and that would stop the rhythm. “
“When you play with the pros, they get a very strong ball, so they are used to that kind of shot. I can play tennis better if I raise the ball high.”
“Keeping the ball high is the only chance we have to beat them. So I do it automatically. Not only in the race, I can crush other people’s strengths and maximize my strengths. I need to
In Fernando Alonso’s mind, his F1 experience has given him certain advantages. I am able to make better overall decisions about areas where I need to focus more.
“Experience certainly helps in many ways,” said Alonso.
“At the start, the perception of things, tire management, pit stops, how to approach the mechanics, and also how to approach the weekend, free practice, how important it is, what is not important, etc.”
“When you’re young you pay a lot of attention to every lap, even FP1 is like the last lap of a championship, so I think I understand those things.”
“We have improved a lot in wet and damp conditions. Usually wet races are a long shot. Things change very quickly, a lot of safety cars and a lot of dry lines later on. So we have more chances.”
“Not every lap is a final lap. I used to make these kinds of mistakes early in the race, but now I try to avoid them. And this comes only from experience and my own mistakes. ”
Fernando Alonso doesn’t feel his age is negative. In particular, he was able to recharge his batteries after two years away from F1 and rediscover the feeling of winning with Toyota in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). He won his third world title in the 2018-19 ‘superseason’ and two wins at the 2 Hours of Le Mans.
“As for the downsides, it’s hard to say, because I don’t feel like I’m missing what I had when I was younger,” said Alonso.
“Maybe 2018 felt like I was mentally drained by marketing, travel, etc. And I needed those two years. Now I feel okay. Those two. I don’t know if it’s just the years that have helped me, or in terms of the different approaches that I have now.”
Above all, Fernando Alonso believes he will be far better off after his return than when his first period in F1 was over.
Fernando Alonso believes his exit from F1, including two attempts to qualify for the Indy 500, has also helped him see the bigger picture better, and those positives He says he brought the elements to himself.
“There are different philosophies in racing, there are different driving techniques. It doesn’t apply to F1 cars, but when you lose control of the car or oversteer, your hands and feet drive only the F1 car. I may be making movements that I didn’t know before I was doing it.”
“So in some ways I feel like I have more control over things now.”
Category: F1 / Fernando Alonso / Alpine