Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you to everyone in the Aston Martin garage, your new home, which already seems like your home for a lifetime. Stepping off the podium at the Bahrain circuit, Fernando Alonso he delivered the celebration of his third place in the first race of the World Championship to his bosses, his mechanics, the engineers, down to the last of the team workers. It is difficult to describe the atmosphere that we are experiencing behind closed doors, the atmosphere that exists in the factory. There is a tremendous illusion, everyone is giving everything to make the project grow, declared Alonso and they were not courteous words. Before, just when he saw the checkered flag, he celebrated over the radio and all that came out were words for his people: What have you done, guys? What have you done?
At first, these, the mechanics, applauded, shouted, but the party was very short, very contained, in the line that marks the direction and Alonso himself. Half an hour after the race, an Aston Martin employee ran to save the trophy received on the podium in one of the boxes that will travel to the next race, in 15 days, in Saudi Arabia.
We didn’t expect to be on the podium, that’s for sure. Our goal was to lead the middle zone, get closer to the big three [Red Bull, Ferrari y Mercedes]. In fact I still have that feeling that all of this is too good to be true. But it is also only the beginning, we still have a lot of work to do, declared the Spanish pilot who, yes, released his smile and watched the repetitions of his overtaking that were seen on the giant screens of the paddock. I have enjoyed, I have enjoyed a lot, I recognized.
before enemies
Those two advances are already part of his repertoire of anthological movements, the ones that will remain when he retires, if he ever does. After a problematic start, in which he suffered a touch from his teammate, Lance Strolland was discovered behind the Mercedes of lewis hamilton and George Russell, Alonso gave himself in the last half hour of the race to a Homeric mission. He was sixth, how to finish on the podium? He will require a lot of magic. He was helped by the withdrawal of charles leclerc, with electrical problems in his Ferrari, but the rest was up to him. The first dance, together with Hamilton, was special. On lap 38 of the total 57, in turn 10, the most difficult possible, when no one expected it, as Alonso himself accepted, the Spaniard launched his car from the inside and took the place from his old enemy.
It has been a great overtaking, really, accepted Hamilton himself in the mixed zone just after hugging Alonso. Long ago there was antipathy, but it was long ago, too long ago. Now both maintain a cordial relationship, typical of two veterans who only want to have fun. And that was precisely what the leader of Aston Martin did in his second overtaking.
After passing Hamilton, on lap 47 he found himself Carlos Sainz, already with the third position at stake, and his tactic was different. From aggressiveness to delicacy. Sainz’s Ferrari tires were shredded, his problems were evident, overcoming him was a matter of time. But it had to be done and he did it again in an unexpected place, this time at turn 11. Again an ovation from the stands, again the public on its feet.
The anger of the Red Bull
As Saturday already passed in qualifying, the victory of max verstappen and the second of Czech Prez they were hidden behind the enormous attraction generated by the return of Alonso. In the press conference after the podium, 10 of the 13 questions were for the Spaniard and of the remaining two, one was for Alonso and the other drivers. Ah, now we are the other pilots! exclaimed Pérez jokingly, also somewhat annoyed.
During the act, while Alonso answered over and over again, he and Verstappen began to talk to each other, commenting on details of his new polo shirt, possibly to show his boredom. That’s right, the current champion returned to praise Alonso with whom he maintains a certain friendship. He has done a great job and it is great news that he is here. The championship? It is not clear to me that they can fight for the championship, we will have to see it, he commented with an uncertain future.
And is that, seen what has been seen, is Alonso a candidate for the World Cup? In yesterday’s race his car was confirmed faster than the Mercedes and kinder to the tires than the Ferrari, but… It was only the first race. In Bahrain we are strong in things that we may not find in the next two races, in Arabia and Australia. If we are fast on those circuits, we can celebrate. But I think it won’t be clear who can really fight for the World Cup with the Red Bulls until we get to Barcelona. [en junio, la octava carrera del ao]Alonso analyzed.
The double world champion, visibly tired after the race – he finished very sweaty, despite the fact that the night temperature in Bahrain is not so demanding – clearly conveyed his message. He is cautious about what is coming and thanks to his team. That’s right, when they asked him if the victory number 33 of his life was coming, he couldn’t contain himself: Yes, that’s right. It can come why not? Last year he was fighting for the podium when things were happening ahead, if he continues like this this year victory can come.
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