Formula 1, Alonso: “I’ll never have the bad luck to have two championships”

With Fernando Alonso, one of the few top elite drivers in history and perhaps the top 3 of the most capable “post-you” era in Formula 1, who only won two world championships 15 years ago and only achieved 32 victories, the Spaniard’s talent seems low to be .

But he doesn’t believe that: He is grateful that he even managed to reach Formula 1 whenever he wanted to, in order to compete at the top of other motorsport institutions such as Lehmann’s 24 Hours, Indy500 and the Dakar Rally.

Shortly before his 19th year in Formula 1 at Alpine in 2022, Alonso talked about all the stuff, about his harvest over the years, about the past, about his decisions to go and come back last year. More details:

Whether his talent deserves more championships: “No, I don’t think so. I believe you are getting what you deserve. Some may have won championships or wins while there are better drivers on the track, but there have also been a lot of extremely talented drivers that I have met in karting or in Formula 3 who have never reached F1 – and that’s unfair too .

Something similar happens in F1. We have 20 great drivers, 90% of whom will never win a GP and that’s unfair because they definitely deserve it. I was lucky enough to win two world championships and play at Le Mans, Daytona, WEC, so I lived a lot longer than I could have dreamed of at the start of my career. And so I will never be unlucky with my results. “

For the differences between Ferrari and you McLaren: “They always had a different philosophy. At Renault you can find a family atmosphere and friendliness. At Ferrari it’s a little more passionate, and a little more chaotic with the Mediterranean DNA of its people. McLaren is a little more serious, more accurate in everything, but maybe it lacks a bit of internal communication, even though it is a highly professional environment “.

For the most competitive car he’s ever had F1: “I think I had the best car three times. Beginning in the first half of 2005. McLaren was faster with Kimi Raikkonen, but it didn’t have the credibility. Then in the first 6-7 races of 2006 I think. ” We had the best car and then Ferrari and maybe Bridgestone together made a very fast car. [με τη McLaren] I think they were equivalent [με τη Ferrari], I don’t think we clearly had the fastest car. “We won the title on two of these three occasions so I think it went well.”

For the two championships 2005-06: “The most important thing for us was that we won a championship in 2005 that we hadn’t expected. In the second division, I think the most important thing was the opportunity to fight with Mikael [Σουμάχερ]”.

For the reasons of his departure from F1 End of 2018: “At this stage in my career I needed a variety of challenges. I was tempted to run LeMans, I also ran Indy500 in 2017 before quitting [από τη F1], I had all of these challenges on my mind, competing in different categories, competing with other top drivers in different types of races, and I felt a challenge to myself.

I didn’t stop falling in love with Formula 1, at the time I just felt like I was wasting my time in Formula 1. I did not have the opportunity to achieve victories, but I felt a desire to follow the challenges of various types of games. So I felt that the time was right, but maybe it would have been even better if I had made up my mind in 2015 or 2016. But I didn’t have the crystal ball to see what would happen in 2017-18.

For his return and the 2021 season: “I’ve enjoyed the whole year with the team, on and off the track, and I’m very happy. I had the luxury of the moment I decided to return to the sport. I stopped when I was myself decided, I turned around when I made up my mind. ” It is a great luxury. A “A very small group of people can lead into F1 and it’s not easy to have such opportunities. And as the season progressed, with our continuous improvement and our very strong finish, there has been nothing better to prepare for 2022. “

For the difficulties of its adaptation: “The biggest challenge was probably the front tires and the different philosophy of each team with the front suspension, the steering system and the information it receives from the steering system. Every team is unique in this. The structure of the tires also changed from 2020 to ’21, and that was a challenge for everyone – and especially for the drivers who changed teams, but also for me, who had stayed away from the sport for two years “.

For a feeling of happiness in F1: “I think after 2007 when I was on an English team with Hamilton everyone was amazed how happy I felt on each team. I answered those questions when I went to Ferrari and again when I returned to McLaren in 2019 when I left “sport, but now again. But those were wrong conclusions. I’m very happy now, but I’ve felt just as good in the years before. “