Fernando Alonso against time: how does he compare to other “old” drivers in Formula 1 history?

Throughout its history Formula 1 set of 42 drivers over 40 have managed to score in a Grand Prix, a list that has dwindled drastically over time, leaving behind a time when the important thing was not so much old age but that another kind of skill was sought behind the wheel. So, only since 1980 7 runners have added at least one point over 40: René Arnoux, Jacques Lafitte, Mario Andretti, Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.

Of them all, only the Spaniard is still active and most impressively, the two-time world champion refuses to accept that he has an expiry date in motorsport’s highest division. His skills remain intact, his reflexes as well and the speed that characterized him in the past is still present in every fight. Weekend after weekend Alonso realizes that age is just a number and that he wants to continue in Formula 1 as long as the teams continue to love him.

The last days Otmar Szafnauer, In the appearance following the announcement of Alonso’s non-renewal, he justified Alpin’s decision with the example of Michael Schumacher. “It’s fair to say that at 42 he wasn’t the same driver as he was at 35.” stated about it Kaiser. “It happens in all sports. If it was at the highest level [Alonso] Of course we wanted to continue, but year after year.”

The reason behind the collapse of negotiations was the length of time the French team wanted to impose, covering their back against an increasingly older Alonso and keeping their future options open. Nonetheless, It’s fair to acknowledge that this Fernando is on the same competitive level as other drivers this season which takes many years. On the other hand, in a sport as physically, mentally and visually demanding as Formula 1, where reaction time and hand-eye coordination are among the highest in the world, the passage of time tends to affect the performance of veterans. .

Aston Martin wanted to see the opposite of the Alpine in Spanish and has long bet on Alonso. Who will be right is impossible to predict, but there is something that can be done and this is it compare the two-time world champion to other great drivers who fought in the past.

The conditions: they are over 40 years old, they have played the whole season. Cases from 1990 are taken into account. The reason we leave aside legendary figures such as Juan Manuel Fangio (5-time champion with +40 years), Giussepe Farina, Graham Hill or Jack Brabham lies in the fact that this period of time of F1 was not such a differentiating factor as it is today and experience prevailed more, on the contrary.

Sorting rate

As a general rule, all drivers over 40 who have played a full season have given up against their teammate. There are only three exceptions, the first being Pedro Martinez de la Rosa who ran into a Narain Karthikeyan who barely had the talent to drive an F1 car. Secondly, Philippe Alliot and Fernando Alonso, who effectively drew level with their team rivals in Saturday’s sessions.

So much Michael Schumacher What Kimi Raikkonen they were unable to overcome their classmates, easily beaten by Rosberg and Giovinazzi.

against Esteban Ocon

*The current season

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Kimi Raikkonen

Experience is what ultimately makes the difference in racing. Saturdays may be overrun by most veterans, but things are even on Sundays. Among those mentioned, only Nico Rosberg was able to beat Michael Schumacher in races where both saw the checkered flag, but by quite a small margin. Even so, the 2016 champion

achieved one win and five podiums, with Kaiser’s 0 and 1. The best example of the superiority of the veteran over the young was given by KimiRaikkonen , beating Giovinazzi 57% of the time. However, most of them entered 2019

When I was younger.” In case that Alonso What is striking is the regularity with which he was atpoints

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