Alonso coach reveals key to ‘eternal youth’

Fernando Alonso At 41, he’s shining in F1 again (turning 42 in July). And they all ask the same question. How is that possible? The Spaniard has repeatedly said age is just a number and his riding is better than ever. And physically like a bull. All but one of the pillars of F1, one of the two trustworthy trainers since the beginning of F1, has been taken by surprise. Ed Bendinelli.

Italians also attended MD who participated in the Spanish GP preview yesterday Fernando explains what keeps him one of the best drivers on the grid. Obviously, the first key is physical, but it’s not the only one.

“I decided to start the new season with a new team full of expectations.Is called.

“Fernando has his typical elements of great focus, great responsiveness to training and motivational stimulation. We have created a training program based on past characteristics, since we have all the parameters since the start. “clarified in the paper.

Alonso’s motivation to prepare for this season was such that Asturias and Ed spent many days training in sub-zero temperatures over the winter at Selva di Val Gardena in the Italian Dolomites. There, the physical blow was enormous. “We did almost every morning cross-country skiing with about 1,200 meters of undulation and two hours of climbing. Then in the afternoon, I hit the gym for a lot of strength and reaction training, among other things. For example, we exercised and immediately had a different reaction. By doing so, he exercised his reflexes when he was tired and his mind was ready. ‘ he comments.

When I wasn’t cross-country skiing, I ran for an hour and a half in extremely bumpy terrain in -5-6 degrees Celsius. All to reach 120% at the start of the course.

“We have all your data year after year. We went to base in 2005. Fernando was a reactive guy in terms of muscle quality. It had potential, squeezed out really a lot of power and had very high speed. This is a natural muscle characteristic and inevitably weakens somewhat with age. And while this loss was minimal, he made up for it with his enormous resistance,” Ed commented.

“He changed one muscle characteristic and improved another. It’s like going from a 100-meter runner to a half-marathon runner.” Bendinelli added that according to the studies conducted, “Fernando Alonso’s metabolic age is about 30, ten years younger than his 41.” You may be confused with a man in his 30s. And the spirit…that’s good,” he added.

heart, great key

And that is how Bendinelli makes it clear that regardless of his physique, what matters most is another element: the mind. “The mental side is fundamental. It’s the mind that drives everything: cars, profits, attention. The problem is that it’s hard to train your brain. So, in a way, I’m saying that it’s relatively easy to train your body. Stay fit, train, and you’ll always have a response and you’ll see immediate results. However, it is very difficult to train desire, energy and cunning. Either you have it or you don’t. And you have to see and face the stimulus that you have to create by yourself. And this is what Fernando has. He has an iron spirit. And even more this year. Given his age and background, it’s not going to be easy. “points.

If there’s one thing that surprises Ed, it’s the desire to “put himself in the spotlight again”, and when in his place there’s another person with his name and history, ” I want to fight the young people who live there like animals in the savannah.” I gave up, I lost.

“The thing that surprised me the most was their enthusiasm. The desire to still be here, to do something. Really, this is amazing. And even now, years later, he still says to me every day, ‘That’s it.’ We keep demanding that we have to do this as well. And check all parameters: diet, recovery, rest. Yes, it’s his job, but there are people who finish his story on his behalf. Noel. As if it was his first season in Formula 1,” added Ed, comparing him to him. “The Incredible Hulk”, but in this case “has a head”able to use all his qualities for the sole purpose of being successful again.

“Even in a few years, someone will repeat what they did. But for now, Fernando’s player is unique,” he noted, noting that Oviedo’s player has the ropes left for a while. guaranteed to be there. “If his physique and drive continue, he can stay in F1 for as long as he wants.”