Around the turn of the millennium, when Formula 1 was still firmly in the hands of German drivers, the motorsport boom town of Kerpen got a permanent exhibition called “The World of Schumachers”. But alas, a reporter dared to write about a museum, the Schumis were after all still active. Fernando Alonso, who made his debut in a Minardi in 2001, has significantly fewer problems with his own epochal classification. He has long since opened the Museo y Circuito Fernando Alonso near his hometown of Oviedo – and the showcases there are constantly being replenished.
The Spaniard, now 41, has just changed teams again and signed a two-year contract. And the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday marks a high point in Alonso’s career: it’s his 351st start in the premier class, making him the sole marathon man.
No one then drove more races than he did, and no one will catch up with him anytime soon. Of the active pilots, only Lewis Hamilton is above the 300 mark. Max Verstappen, 25, who could become world champion early on Sunday, may want to retire at the age of 30 to get more out of life. Alonso, on the other hand, has needed half his lifetime to finally lead one of the important record categories in Formula 1, but his ambition has by no means dried up. He himself sees the record more as a way station: “I will definitely reach 400 races. This shows my passion for the sport and my discipline to drive at a high level.”
“My instincts are as intact as ever,” Alonso says of himself, even at 41
Kimi Raikkonen, the previous top man, who retired in December 2021 at the age of 42 and thus stopped at 350 appearances, did not care about these tables. Fernando Alonso also acts relatively uninterested, but that’s not really credible. He still grapples with the fact that his talent hasn’t brought him more than two world titles, which he did win against Michael Schumacher in 2005 and 2006. After that, he was in the wrong car at the wrong time too often, and obstinacy often stood in his way.
Look, I’m world champion: Fernando Alonso celebrates in São Paulo in 2005.
(Photo: Gero Breloer/dpa)
In the ego rating, Alonso has always been the best. Even after nine winless years, his self-confidence is still huge and therefore needs a lot more care. When the former British racing driver Johnny Herbert suggested he resign in front of the Sky microphones in 2016, Alonso snowed into a live broadcast a little later and lectured the average driver: “You don’t even know what it means to be a champion .”
At Aston Martin, where he is to succeed Sebastian Vettel in the midfield, they are warned. Sporting director Mike Krack says of the spectacular transaction in early August: “Fernando has this unique combination of speed, hunger, motivation and experience. It might be more difficult than it is now if the car we’re delivering isn’t good enough. But we have the advantages and disadvantages discussed, his speed is the decisive factor.” The former BMW man is particularly amazed at the tremendous desire that the veteran still brings with him.
The compliment comes close to Alonso’s self-assessment. “My instincts are as intact as ever,” he says, which was also evident in the transfer campaign. After Vettel announced his retirement on Thursday before the race in Budapest, Alonso negotiated overnight with Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll and announced his move on Monday. Equipped with what his previous employer Alpine had denied him: a hefty salary increase and a contract lasting several years.
The fans love Alonso in particular for his radical duel behavior
The fact that he can celebrate his record in Singapore is another point in his career. In 2008, at the premiere of the night race, Renault strategists brought in Alonso for an early pit stop and later instructed teammate Nelson Piquet junior to intentionally drive into the wall. With a full tank and fresh tires, Alonso had an easy time after the safety car period. It was the most controversial of his 32 victories, but unlike his mentor Flavio Briatore, the driver is still believed to be innocent to this day. Unlike during the ongoing feud at McLaren-Mercedes the year before, rookie Lewis Hamilton Alonso got too much warmth from the British nest, so it got dirty: blockages in the pit lane, allegations of espionage, attempts to bribe mechanics. In the chaos, both drivers missed out on a possible title, and the team also had to pay a 100 million fine for the scandal uncovered by Alonso.
All the controversies, all the contrasts in his personality contribute to the special aura that surrounds Fernando Alonso. With the Alpine-Renault he struggles in the midfield, but fights for every World Championship point as if it were about the third title. With every attack or defensive maneuver he seems to want to show: look, I can still do it. The fans love him for the radical duel behavior, for his incredible driving experience. But he is also revered for his radio messages, which are sometimes funny, often grim, but mostly outrageous. Just recently in Spa, after a crash with Lewis Hamilton, he berated the Brit as an “idiot” who could only drive fast if he was in the best car and leading the races.
Mind games that are good for the image. But only condition and skill will determine whether and how Fernando Alonso will reach the targeted 400 races. As long as he stays fast enough, the question of the generational conflict does not arise. The current World Championship ninth has already confirmed his declaration of intent: “I want to race, not just do laps.”
