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Alonso returns to his rights: ten years later, he will start second

Alonso (r) and Sainz (l), along with Verstappen, the top three on the grid at the Canadian GP. / Christine pussy / Reuters

Canadian GP

The Spaniard starts from the front row of the grid for the first time since Germany 2012, as only Max Verstappen could beat him, with Carlos Sainz third

Fernando Alonso, and nothing else. At the age of 41, on a track flooded with water and with rumors about his future lurking, the two-time Spanish champion achieved a memorable second place that will allow him to fight to win if he is able to overcome Max Verstappen himself. The current world champion was the only one in power with the Asturian in a classification that was played in water.

And under those conditions, the old wolf howled again. Alonso called for chaos a few races ago, and Montreal is a hands-on circuit, where bravery with a head prevails. Since in the third free practice, also played with water, Alonso achieved the best time, it was already clear that he was going to fight in the classification. In Q1 he was second, disputed completely with water, and it seemed that things were going to get more complicated for him when in Q2 there was a red flag, caused by ‘Checo’ Pérez. The Mexican crashed at the chicane between turns 3 and 4, forcing a stop and causing the track to dry out a bit.

The fear that with the drier track the Alpine would melt was immediately dispelled. Although the circuit was improving by the second, the A522 and the intermediate tires behaved like a charm and in Q2, again, he was second. Logic suggested that in Q3 it would fall. but not. That’s where the intelligence factor came in, which Alonso has more than developed. He saw George Russell throw a riot on the table and come out to the pits on the soft dry tyres. and he went wrong. The Briton ended up off the track, and Alonso didn’t think twice: he started his lap looking for a bell, even risking an accident, to stay just 6 tenths behind an impossible-to-catch Verstappen.

Carlos Sainz complied. The man from Madrid is Ferrari’s big bet, forced because Charles Leclerc will start last after replacing his engine. The Monegasque will sacrifice this race to be better for the rest of the races, but it had to be the Spaniard who gave the callus. After a problem in Q1 that caused him to go off track (and almost stay there), Sainz did his best to score a more than decent third place.

The last dance of Fernando Alonso

Both Alonso and Sainz opt for anything, even to win, but in the race the conditions will be different. It is expected that there will be no rain, so the first few meters will be key. There the old fox has already warned that he will go for it all.

Alonso will attack Verstappen

The surprise of finding himself second caught him completely off guard. Alonso appeared in the press corralito, as always, because he did not remember that he had to go to the press conference of the first three, although to hear his statements it was not necessary to wait so long because he was interviewed at the foot of the track by Jacques Villeneuve, who was a teammate of the Asturian at Renault for a few races.

Alonso was elated. Cheered by hundreds of fans, who admire the legend and vibrate with the pilot thanks to performances like yesterday’s, he promised battle. “It’s been an incredible weekend, we’ve been competitive since Free Practice 1, where we usually are, but also on Saturday, where we usually lose something,” admitted the Spaniard, before praising the team’s work. “The car has been ‘mega’ today, I have been very good with the car and the fans have given me that extra push,” he said, using a tribunary tactic to get another roar from the stands. He ended his words with a statement that, quoting the famous phrase from ‘Airbag’, were not forms, but boasts: “I think I will attack Max (Verstappen) in the first corner.” A whole declaration of intent that promises to give, at least, some memorable first meters in a weekend in which, at least, the two Spaniards opt for the podium.

Whatever happens in the race, Alonso will never forget this Canadian Grand Prix. It is expected to be in the dry, which predictably reduces his favoritism, but achieving his best result since the 2012 German GP, ​​when he took pole, and starting second, something he had not achieved since the Spanish GP that year, is something you can’t let go of. A Sunday is coming from those who make a hobby.

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