Fernando Alonso was already considered a discontinued model in Formula 1. The move to Aston Martin at the age of 41 seemed unlikely to succeed. But suddenly everything is different.
No, Fernando Alonso certainly doesn’t need a special area for his fans at his home game. “The entire circuit will be my own impressive grandstand,” says the 41-year-old.
Before the Grand Prix in front of the gates of Barcelona on Sunday (3 p.m. / Sky), there is great euphoria in Catalonia, because Spain’s only Formula 1 world champion is surprisingly fighting at the top again at an advanced age. Five podium finishes in six races and third place in the World Championship standings are an interim result that hardly anyone expected. Now the national hero wants even more.
“So far we have achieved many third places and a second place in Monaco. What we still need is a win,” says Alonso. And where better to celebrate his long-awaited 33rd Grand Prix success than in front of more than 100,000 fans in his home country. The last time he stood on the top step of the podium was ten years ago, when he drove his Ferrari to an acclaimed triumph at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Will the sensational repetition in the Aston Martin follow a decade later?
Verstappen the measure of things
That only seems possible if world champion Max Verstappen fails. The 25-year-old from the Netherlands is so superior in his Red Bull that he can probably only beat himself in Spain. “We need weekends when Red Bull has problems,” says Alonso. He doesn’t put any pressure on himself. “I’m not obsessed with this win,” he says. If Verstappen, like his teammate Sergio Perez, didn’t score a point or two, he could still catch up in the overall standings, says Alonso. Aston Martin wouldn’t stand a chance based on sheer speed. But that’s not a reason to give up.
With 93 points, Alonso is just twelve points behind second-placed Perez. However, two-time champion Verstappen has already scored 51 points more than Alonso – and is a fan of the Spaniard. “I have a lot of respect for him because he is still so committed at this age.” Alonso is his favorite driver in the current field, adds Verstappen: “I grew up watching him drive.” He is “a great example for the people out there,” he emphasizes: “If you stay committed and believe in yourself and in the opportunities that are available, then you can do something like what he’s doing right now.”
Alonso was world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006, he ended Michael Schumacher’s title series and then went to Ferrari himself. Expectations were high that Alonso would also triumph in the most striking racing car in the world. But he failed and left the cockpit at the end of 2014. Years followed with more downs than ups at McLaren and Alpine – including a two-year break in 2019 and 2020. When he signed with Aston Martin last year as Sebastian Vettel’s successor, it was almost a sight out of desperation. What should he still be able to do at the age of 40?
praise from Schumacher
Quite a lot, as it turned out. He is now at an age “where he can concentrate on the essentials. And he is now working hard against the accusation that he is not a team player. And he does it very well and very fairly,” said the former Formula 1 driver. Pilot Ralf Schumacher of the German Press Agency: “He could win the title in the Red Bull.”
Alonso certainly also benefited from Vettel’s preparatory work and came into a well-positioned team that wants to be at the forefront in the coming years. It is not yet clear how long Alonso himself will continue. There are no signs of an early career end.
How much fun he currently has in his job is not only evident on the race track. In Barcelona, Alonso enjoyed the cheers and affection of his compatriots at a fan meeting. “I hope that we will see a lot of green in the grandstands this weekend,” he says, referring to the colors of his British racing team.
relationship rumors
He recently caused a stir because the Asturian was said to have a flirtation with US superstar Taylor Swift. Alonso didn’t bother to deny it, but instead enjoyed using Swift’s music to accompany his social media posts.
But there have long been new relationship rumors. As Spanish media reported this week, he is said to be dating a Spanish journalist. The experienced Alonso will certainly not be distracted from the essentials. “We will enjoy every moment here,” he said before the first training session.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
