Fernando Alonso shows age brings wisdom, not weakness

Two-time satellite champion Fernando Alonso has shown that property brings fatigue, but besides large acquisition that tin beryllium decisive. He volition commencement 4th successful the sprint contention astatine Losail, his champion commencement of the season. For a operator who has been successful Formula 1 since 2001 and has made a grounds 423 starts, this is impervious that his vocation is acold from over.

This week's media absorption has been connected Max Verstappen, particularly aft comments from McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who described him arsenic "the villain from a fearfulness movie, the 1 who ne'er goes away". However, Alonso is reminding everyone successful Formula 1 from the shadows that his communicative is inactive going connected and that helium is competitive, adjacent astatine the property of 44.

"Yes, I deliberation 24 years of acquisition and 44 years of beingness person their drawbacks," Alonso said aft sprint qualifying, finishing 12 places up of teammate Lance Stroll. “I get much bushed from the question and pitchy lag, but I cognize the tracks, the tyres and the car. I cognize however to acceptable everything up connected Friday and past connected Saturday we tin marque tiny changes and everything volition autumn into place.”

For Alonso, it is simply a important infinitesimal successful a play successful which Aston Martin has not had a podium decorativeness for astir 2 years. They are presently eighth successful the constructors’ standings, but Alonso insists that the information has not disappeared.

“Maybe successful the past the excitement came from winning, similar successful 2023 erstwhile I came to Aston Martin, but present it comes from the caller changes. The 2026 regulations bring a batch of unknowns, we don’t cognize who volition commencement better, but yes, I americium excited.”

Aston Martin is battling Haas and Sauber for each position, and the sprint effect could marque a large difference. “We are each 5 to 7 points isolated successful the constructors. There are 3 opportunities near to people points — 2 successful Qatar and 1 successful Abu Dhabi — and we privation to bushed the competition.”

Fernando Alonso whitethorn beryllium feeling much bushed and his property is giving him an other challenge, but his acquisition and information inactive let him to get the astir retired of it. He volition commencement from a coagulated presumption contiguous and beryllium acceptable to instrumentality each accidental that comes his way.