Fernando Alonso is finally driving for a team that is able to consistently fight for the top three in almost every race. However, what he is desperately craving, is his 33rd win. Alonso sounded confident earlier on this season, that Aston Martin has what it takes to help him realize that dream. However, now, he feels that his “best opportunity” to win a race this campaign, has passed.
Heading into the 2023 Monaco GP, Alonso felt that he had a golden shot at winning his 33rd F1 race. His last win came all the way back in 2013, at his home Grand Prix when he was driving for Ferrari. Fans too wanted to see an end to Red Bull’s winning streak and, Alonso to stand on the top step of the podium.
Alonso narrowly missed out on the pole position, which again went in Max Verstappen’s favor. Despite being in P2 for the majority of the race, he had a chance of taking the lead in the closing stages, before a failed Aston Martin strategy acted as his Achilles heel. In the end, Verstappen won the Monaco GP, and Alonso finished right behind him in P2.
Monaco was Alonso’s best shot at winning a race
Alonso is still going very strong- both physically and mentally- at the age of 41. He is adamant that he wants to win more races and fight for the world title before hanging up his helmet. However, the strategy disaster that took away his chances of winning in Monaco seems to affect his morale.
As reported by CarAndDriver, Alonso said, “I don’t think we’re aiming for a weekend, in Canada or any other, where we have a better chance of winning. Monaco was probably, to be honest, on our calendar, our best opportunity.”
“We were very close, just 40 or 50 milliseconds from pole position. And then in the race, obviously the opportunity with the weather that came at the end.”
In the next race after Monaco, Alonso struggled immensely, despite the expectations on his shoulders with it being in his home Grand Prix. His confidence doesn’t seem to have been shaken, but Alonso is definitely ruing not winning the outing in Monaco.
Fernando Alonso wary of Lewis Hamilton’s threat
One of the few positives for F1 fans amidst Max Verstappen’s never-ending dominance in recent weeks has been Lewis Hamilton‘s resurgence. Of course, it is still early days, and the seven-time world champion’s team Mercedes can enter another slump again. But for now, the heated battles between Alonso and Hamilton on the track are keeping everyone entertained.
Alonso and Hamilton have treated fans to some incredible battles over the years. Now, at the twilight of their respective careers, they are going at it once again. Hamilton and Alonso’s tussle at the Canadian GP last weekend, in particular, gave fans hope that the battle for P2 will be between these two legendary drivers.
Currently, Alonso is P3 in the standings with 117 points to his name, which is 15 more than Hamilton who is just a spot behind him.
