Behind the Red Bulls of Verstappen and Pérez, he finished third in the first race of the year after getting the crowd on their feet to beat Sainz, fourth, and Hamilton, fifth.
A Formula 1 from another era, a Fernando Alonso from another time. Almost a decade later, the show returns, the Spaniard returns to the podium. For many years, in his very long transit through McLaren and Alpine, he needed an accumulation of other people’s calamities to dream of a drawer. Not anymore. This Sunday in Bahrain, in the first race of the year, in his debut at Aston Martin, Alonso finished third and did so without incident, on his own merits. I only needed luck for an abandonment: charles leclerc he withdrew due to a battery problem and opened the gates of heaven for him. The rest of her was up to her.
Two overtaking, two, one violent at lewis hamiltonold enemy, and another delicate one to Carlos Sainz, old friend, they earned him to celebrate with champagne at the Sakhir circuit. All the indications from the tests, from the preseason, from the training sessions were true: in this World Cup, fight for everything. Only the much faster Red Bulls, with max verstappen first and Czech Prez second, they seem far out of reach. The rest of the opponents, including the Ferraris, will have to answer to him. A Formula 1 from another era, a Fernando Alonso from another time.
“let’s go“, released the two-time radio champion as he overtook Hamilton, who would finish fifth. “bye bye“, he launched after passing Sainz, finally fourth. Alonso had fun driving, he had fun at all times, he had fun above all with both movements.
The first, against Hamilton, was really special. On lap 38 of the total 57, at turn 10, the Briton was waiting for him on the outside, he read his threat and Alonso launched himself on the inside, possibly at the most difficult possible moment. He shouted Spanish for the adrenaline, enjoyed the public already on their feet and there would still be another overtaking. Later, on lap 47, when Leclerc had already retired, Alonso found Sainz’s Ferrari with shredded tires and he watched, watched, watched, perhaps excessively – they almost touched – until he found a clean space to position himself. third.
“My adrenaline has shot up”
“It’s great, it’s great. For the Aston Martin to be the second fastest car seems unrealistic. I would have liked to have been in front from the start, the start was not good, but it was more exciting that way, my adrenaline went off. I hope people have enjoyed it”, commented Alonso just before getting on the podium in Bahrain. He was joyful, he was happy, but he was not exultant, unleashed. Not much less.
Perhaps it was the experience, as this is the 99th podium of his career. Perhaps it was the expectation of a season in which there will be many, many parties like this. Perhaps it was self-demand, sa with which he has built his palmars.
Because really, as he himself analyzed, his start was not good. In the first corners of the first lap he was passed by Lewis Hamilton, more aggressive, and shortly after he even took the lead. George Russell. From the brightest prospects he moved to a somewhat disappointing seventh place, but little by little he built his comeback. Before the first pass through the garage he got rid of Russell and, after the second, thanks to his good tire management he was able to launch himself for the podium.
His two overtakes, Sainz and Hamilton, are already part of the compilation of moments to remember that he continues to accumulate. There are more episodes left, many this year. Whether or not to fight for the World Cup is something else, an unlikely milestone due to the preeminence of Red Bull. In any case, he has returned and the show has returned. A Formula 1 from another era, a Fernando Alonso from another time.
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