Even though Fernando Alonso was a young talent when he competed against the legendary Michael Schumacher, he was never afraid. The Spaniard once explained back in 2005 that all he needed to defeat Schumacher was a quick car with no reliability problems. It is this mantra that has helped him achieve the highs of his two-decade-long career.
Speaking of how he approached races, Alonso explained then in an interview with the Guardian, “When the green light goes on you push every lap, like in qualifying. And if you have the right car and you don’t have mechanical problems, you win the race. If not, you don’t win. It doesn’t matter if it’s Michael or Trulli starting next to you“.
Alonso‘s ability to maintain his calm against the very best paid off as not only did he beat seven-time world champion Schumacher to the title in 2005 but also went on to defend it in 2006. Sadly for the Spaniard, 2006 was also the last time he would be winning a championship. This was not because he did preform optimally but because he did not have a quick enough car to win.
Fernando Alonso won his maiden title when he least expected it
Fernando Alonso has proven himself to be a force to reckon with in F1 by delivering on multiple occasions during his illustrious 20-year-long career. Because of the confidence he has in himself and how competitive he is, Alonso always wants to win.
During his McLaren stint a few years ago, he was often seen expressing his frustration at how slow the car was. He went as far as calling the Woking-based outfit’s power unit, a ‘GP2 engine’.
It has been more than 15 years since Alonso won his last championship. Still, his immense racing pedigree means he is always a favorite to compete for the title provided he is driving a fast car . However, this was not the case back in 2005, the year when he actually went on to win his maiden title.
In the same interview with the Guardian, Alonso said, “It is only the fourth year of Renault‘s 100% involvement. We are doing huge steps with the car and we’re surprising everybody. So if we win the championship, OK. If not, I’m 23 years old and I have enough time“.
Can Aston Martin help Alonso win his third championship?
More than 15 years have passed since Fernando Alonso won his last championship back in 2006 but the dream for the Spaniard to win another carries on. The 41-year-old is currently racing for Aston Martin, a team that has improved significantly since the last campaign.
Last year, Aston Martin finished seventh in the Constructors’ Championship and this year they already find themselves in second place after the first five races. The British outfit has scored 102 points and are six points clear of third-placed Mercedes and another 18 points clear of fourth-placed Ferrari.
And when it comes to Alonso, he himself has had an outstanding start to the 2023 season. The Spaniard has already clinched four podiums after the first five races and is currently third in the championship.
Alonso will now hope that his team is able to carry on this momentum not only for the remainder of this season but also continue it for the season after.
