WORKING ON HIS COMEBACK
ALITTLE OVER TWELVE MONTHS have passed since Alonso last raced in Formula 1 and he’s keen to remind us what was written on his Mclaren at the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP. It read Hasta luego which translates as “see you later” not “adios” or “bye-bye.”
“I’m not done with F1,” confirms Alonso. “2021 is a good opportunity and I feel fresh and ready now. It’s something I will explore.”
Before then, the two-time F1 champ and Le Mans 24 Hours winner will have attempted the Dakar Rally, which will just have concluded as you read this. He also wants a third crack at the Indianapolis 500. By the summer, he plans to focus his energies on securing a top-line return to F1. Remember, only Ferrari (Charles Leclerc), Red Bull (Max Verstappen), Renault (Esteban Ocon), Racing Point (Sergio Perez and we assume Lance Stroll) and Williams (George Russell) have drivers already signed for 2021, the season the new technical, sporting and financial regulations come into force.
The key question is, which team would employ a driver at 39 years old who has spent the best part of two years out of a Formula 1 cockpit?
“I don’t think age will be a problem,” Alonso fires back. “These cars, with no fuel stops, are not so demanding. You drive seven or eight seconds [a lap] slower on a Sunday than you do on a Saturday. Also, with the new 18-inch wheels it will change the handling of the car and everyone will need to reset the way they drive.”
It might be worth recalling 2010 when Mercedes hired Michael Schumacher, who had then been out of grand prix racing for three seasons, and had turned 41…
“Michael came back to F1 in an era of Pirelli [2010 was Bridgestone’s final season] when the tyres were very sensitive,” Alonso adds. “We had developed skills to take care of the tyres and not overheat them and he was struggling more because of that. In 2021 this won’t be a problem for me.”
“I’m not done with F1, 2021 is a good opportunity and I feel fresh and ready now”
Having spoken closely with F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn and given his thoughts on the new formula, Alonso believes that for both the ‘show’ and the drivers, the regulations are a move in the right direction. It should offer him a better chance to be competitive because the regulations are designed to close up the competitive spread between the teams while enabling drivers to race one another more closely.
“The problem with this sport today is that it’s cruel,” Alonso says. “There is no hope [if you are in a bad car]. It does happen in other sports. Chelsea or Man City can lose to a second division team, but in F1 it is impossible.”
If you needed reminding, Alonso’s last Formula 1 victory was for Ferrari on Fernando’s home turf in May 2013.
“Formula 1 is unfinished business because people think that we deserved more than we achieved – especially in the last few years,” Alonso continues. “In the museum there are cabinets with a lot of trophies, but nothing recently and that seems a bit weird.
“The only problem with new rules is some teams could interpret them differently to others. You can join a team that is winning now, but if they make a mistake with the regs will people say I made a bad decision again?”