“The penalties to Sainz and Hamilton could improve our position on the grid,” predicts the Asturian, who has already accumulated 10 consecutive races in the points.
This weekend, Fernando Alonso equal to Kimi Rikkenen as the driver with the most races in F1 history (350). A record to which he has never attached much importance, but which hovered over his first appearance before journalists in Monza. At this circuit, where 12 years ago he achieved one of the best victories of his life with Ferrari, the Alpine leader has podium options after the sanctions against Lewis Hamilton Y Carlos Sainz.
“I am happy to still be here after so long. In two years, or whatever lies ahead of me, I will reach 400 races. This number shows my passion and discipline to compete at the highest level, because if you don’t perform, the teams will never win.” They are going to offer you the opportunity to compete in so many great prizes”, stressed the two-time world champion in the press room of the Autodromo Nazionale.
After 10 consecutive appointments in the points, Alonso is enjoying his best moment of the season, although he continues to regret those 40 or 50 points that escaped during the start and squeezing the options for his first podium. An opportunity that could well materialize in this Italian GP, given the power shown by the A522 and the problems of its opponents, forced to start from the bottom due to engine changes.
“We need some help”
“We are in the same place as the rest of the year, just behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, so our natural position should be seventh or eighth. To get on the podium we always need some help from these cars ahead.” , advanced the Spaniard, who last Sunday amazed with a prodigious race pace in Zandvoort.
“The penalties to Carlos and Lewis could improve our position at the start, but in the race we could finish in our natural place”, predicted Fernando, without ruling out another third place on the grid like the one signed at the Belgian GP.
The arrival at the Temple of Speed should favor the aspirations of the A522, a single-seater that already offered a high level in other low aerodynamic load circuits. “We went very well in Bak and Spa, so I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be very competitive here as well,” said Alonso, who has also underlined the upcoming races at Suzuka or Austin in red.
“The next one will be 2032”
Close the stage in Alpine on the right foot, where he still has to surpass his teammate in the table Stephen Ocon, it seems like the great goal for the Spanish. “It is probably being, along with 2012, my best season in F1. Even more complete than the ones when I drove a dominant car. After 2012 and 2022, the next one will be 2032,” joked the former McLaren driver.
Likewise, Alonso’s good humor was evident when asked about Jacques Villeneuvethat in a few days I will try the 2021 Alpine here. “I met him in Zandvoort in an elevator and he said: ‘I need some advice’. So if I find five minutes we will have a coffee and chat about everything you need” , confirm.
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