Rare breed Alonso a competitive hope for Melbourne

By Timothy Neal
Date posted: 29 March 2023
Fernando Alonso has started the year like a finely aged red wine in the shockingly improved Aston Martin AMR 23, and could cause a genuine Red Bull upset at the Australian Grand Prix.
And like a finely stored bottle of red wine, you know it’s there, you’re just waiting to drink it…and Alpine may well have been Aston Martin’s wine cellar for the past two seasons!
The two-time F1 world champion (2005-2006 with the Mild Seven F1 Renault team) has started the year with two podiums at Sakhir and Jeddah, with the latter marking his 100th F1 podium – the sixth most in F1 history.
Another stat owned by the Spaniard is that at Silverstone in 2022, he became the driver to have covered the largest total distance driven in an F1 car – 92,643 kilometres. Measured around the equator, the circumference of the earth is 40,075 km, meaning Alonso has driven the circumference of the earth 2.3 times and counting in a Formula 1 car.
The now 41 year-old Spaniard took a break from F1 in 2018, the same year he won his first 24 Hours of Le Mans with Toyota Gazoo Racing in an LMP1 TS050 Hybrid.

Alonso soaks up the applause after being in the winning 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans Toyota LMP1 hybrid team
On his return to F1 with Alpine in 2021 he took one podium, which doesn’t sound like a bag of success, but he amassed 162 points over his two years with the French team, as they strived to head up the mid-pack…and they did in 2022.
But before his return via Alpine, he won the World Endurance Championship for Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2018-19, before winning the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019, driving a Cadillac DP1-V.R for team Konica Minolta Cadillac.
He then went and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a second time in the same Toyota hybrid TS050, before competing in another bucket-list event, the Dakar Rally, which he said he wanted to do when he announced his F1 sabbatical.
He finished 13th in a Toyota Hilux Truck at the 2020 Dakar, which he flipped twice and persevered (one of the crashes was fairly hectic coming over a dune), and he then drove on without a windscreen to finish the stage…through the Saudi Arabian desert with no windscreen.

Alonso had a big crash in the Saudi Dunes at the 2020 Dakar Rally, but he somehow continued to finish the stage despite having no windscreen
Also very impressive, is that before the Dakar event, he took a Rally-Raid podium at the Al Ula-Neom Cross-Country Rally in Saudi Arabia the same year, with co-driver Marc Coma.
The two-time F1 world champion sent the drivers market into a spin when he announced he was leaving Alpine in August of 2022.
It started a game of musical chairs which saw Australia’s Oscar Piastri move to McLaren from Alpine to replace compatriot Daniel Ricciardo for the 2023 season, Pierre Gasly’s move from AlphaTauri to Alpine, with Nyck de Vries claiming the vacant AlphaTauri seat.
Alonso said at the same: “It was always a strange feeling and, as I said, I felt like it was the right decision to move to Aston because they seemed to really want me and appreciate every performance I put in in the last few years,” a statement that can be seen as nothing other than a dig at Alpine.
On the outside and from all claims, Alpine and Otmar Szafnauer just didn’t do enough to make Alonso feel like they desired him despite his consistent point scoring efforts in a mid-pack car.
But also, it felt like he was moving to a team that would not be nearly as competitive, as Aston Martin had been scraping the constructors’ cellar for the last two seasons.

Fernando Alonso leads teammate Lance Stroll during the Bahrain GP. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images
The contract, which reportedly has a get-out clause and is understood to be worth around $20 million dollars a year (for a 41 year-old driver) would logically seem like a decent reason for him making the switch. But he also said he wanted to be competitive, so it also didn’t add up in one sense.
Alonso himself – who has a consistent history of making bold moves – said himself that it was a gamble, and not many would have predicted the Silverstone based team to be where they currently sit – second in the constructors, and third in the drivers.
“I don’t even know what to say, because eight months ago the project was just a bet,” Alonso said after Round 1 in Bahrain.
“But now to be race one with a completely new car – which I think we still need to unlock a lot of potential of – to be in the top five fighting with Ferrari, Mercedes, it seems a little bit unreal, but we will take it for sure.”
Two podiums and two qualifying efforts of P3 and P2, as well as topping a few practices, is a pretty good form line heading into Albert Park, and Australian Sport fans like nothing more than an underdog getting up…and somehow, one of the best and most entertaining drivers in F1 history is an underdog – but that’s F1 for you!

Fernando Alonso leads the field through turn 1 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo by Mark Sutton / Sutton Images
For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.
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'description' => 'An Introduction to Formula One (F1)
Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l\'Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name "Formula One" refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.
The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).
The history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\' championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.
Formula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.
Formula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.
Formula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.
The following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:
1950-1959
1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) - Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo
1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo
1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari
1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari
1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati / Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Ferrari D50, Ferrari
1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati
1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 246, Ferrari
1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax
1960-1969
1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax
1961: Phil Hill (United States) - Ferrari 156, Ferrari
1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - BRM P57, BRM
1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax
1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 158, Ferrari
1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax
1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco
1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) - Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco
1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford
1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Matra MS80, Matra-Ford
1970-1979
1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) - Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford
1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford
1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford
1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford
1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T, Ferrari
1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari
1978: Mario Andretti (United States) - Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford
1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari
1980-1989
1980: Alan Jones (Australia) - Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford
1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford
1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) - Williams FW08, Williams-Ford
1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW
1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) - McLaren MP4/2, McLaren-TAG
1985: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2B, McLaren-TAG
1986: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2C, McLaren-TAG
1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda
1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/4, McLaren-Honda
1989: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/5, McLaren-Honda
1990-1999
1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/5B, McLaren-Honda
1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/6, McLaren-Honda
1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) - Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault
1993: Alain Prost (France) - Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault
1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford
1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault
1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) - Williams FW18, Williams-Renault
1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) - Williams FW19, Williams-Renault
1998: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/13, McLaren-Mercedes
1999: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/14, McLaren-Mercedes
2000-2009
2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari
2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2001, Ferrari
2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2002, Ferrari
2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari
2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2004, Ferrari
2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R25, Renault
2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R26, Renault
2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) - Ferrari F2007, Ferrari
2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes
2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) - Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes
2010-2020
2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault
2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault
2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault
2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault
2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes
2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes
2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) - Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes
2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2021-
2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB16B, Honda
2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
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Formula One, or F1, is the highest class of single-seater auto racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de l\'Automobile (FIA) and is owned by Liberty Media. The name "Formula One" refers to the set of rules or formula that all cars and drivers must comply with.
The F1 season consists of a series of races, known as Grands Prix, held on purpose-built circuits or public roads around the world. The results of each race are combined to determine two annual championships: one for drivers and one for constructors (teams).
The history of Formula One can be traced back to the pre-war Grand Prix racing, which featured open-wheel cars with supercharged engines. The first World Championship of Drivers was organised by the FIA in 1950, following the end of World War II. The first race was held at Silverstone, England, and was won by Giuseppe Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo. The first constructors\' championship was introduced in 1958 and was won by Vanwall.
Formula One has seen many changes and innovations over the years, both in terms of technology and regulations. Some of the most notable developments include the introduction of rear-engined cars in the late 1950s, the use of aerodynamic wings in the late 1960s, the adoption of turbocharged engines in the late 1970s, the emergence of electronic driver aids in the late 1980s, the switch to V10 and then V8 engines in the 1990s and 2000s, and the introduction of hybrid power units in 2014.
Formula One has also produced some of the greatest drivers and rivalries in the history of motorsport. Some of the most famous names include Juan Manuel Fangio, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel. Some of the most intense battles for the championship have been between Fangio and Stirling Moss in the 1950s, Lauda and James Hunt in the 1970s, Senna and Prost in the late 1980s, Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen in the late 1990s, and Hamilton and Vettel in the 2010s.
Formula One is widely regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, attracting millions of fans and viewers worldwide. The sport is also a huge business, involving billions of dollars in revenue and expenditure. The teams compete for prize money, sponsorship deals, and media rights, while the drivers earn millions of dollars in salaries and endorsements. The sport is also influenced by politics, regulations, and controversies, such as doping scandals, espionage cases, safety issues, and environmental concerns.
The following is a list of all F1 World Drivers Champions by year, from 1950 to 2020:
1950-1959
1950: Giuseppe Farina (Italy) - Alfa Romeo 158, Alfa Romeo
1951: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Alfa Romeo 159, Alfa Romeo
1952: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari
1953: Alberto Ascari (Italy) - Ferrari 500, Ferrari
1954: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati / Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
1955: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Mercedes-Benz W196, Mercedes-Benz
1956: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Ferrari D50, Ferrari
1957: Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina) - Maserati 250F, Maserati
1958: Mike Hawthorn (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 246, Ferrari
1959: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T51, Cooper-Climax
1960-1969
1960: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Cooper T53, Cooper-Climax
1961: Phil Hill (United States) - Ferrari 156, Ferrari
1962: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - BRM P57, BRM
1963: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 25, Lotus-Climax
1964: John Surtees (United Kingdom) - Ferrari 158, Ferrari
1965: Jim Clark (United Kingdom) - Lotus 33, Lotus-Climax
1966: Jack Brabham (Australia) - Brabham BT19, Brabham-Repco
1967: Denny Hulme (New Zealand) - Brabham BT20, Brabham-Repco
1968: Graham Hill (United Kingdom) - Lotus 49, Lotus-Ford
1969: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Matra MS80, Matra-Ford
1970-1979
1970: Jochen Rindt (Austria) - Lotus 72, Lotus-Ford
1971: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 003, Tyrrell-Ford
1972: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - Lotus 72D, Lotus-Ford
1973: Jackie Stewart (United Kingdom) - Tyrrell 006, Tyrrell-Ford
1974: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
1975: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T, Ferrari
1976: James Hunt (United Kingdom) - McLaren M23, McLaren-Ford
1977: Niki Lauda (Austria) - Ferrari 312T2, Ferrari
1978: Mario Andretti (United States) - Lotus 79, Lotus-Ford
1979: Jody Scheckter (South Africa) - Ferrari 312T4, Ferrari
1980-1989
1980: Alan Jones (Australia) - Williams FW07B, Williams-Ford
1981: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT49C, Brabham-Ford
1982: Keke Rosberg (Finland) - Williams FW08, Williams-Ford
1983: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Brabham BT52, Brabham-BMW
1984: Niki Lauda (Austria) - McLaren MP4/2, McLaren-TAG
1985: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2B, McLaren-TAG
1986: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/2C, McLaren-TAG
1987: Nelson Piquet (Brazil) - Williams FW11B, Williams-Honda
1988: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/4, McLaren-Honda
1989: Alain Prost (France) - McLaren MP4/5, McLaren-Honda
1990-1999
1990: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/5B, McLaren-Honda
1991: Ayrton Senna (Brazil) - McLaren MP4/6, McLaren-Honda
1992: Nigel Mansell (United Kingdom) - Williams FW14B, Williams-Renault
1993: Alain Prost (France) - Williams FW15C, Williams-Renault
1994: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B194, Benetton-Ford
1995: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Benetton B195, Benetton-Renault
1996: Damon Hill (United Kingdom) - Williams FW18, Williams-Renault
1997: Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) - Williams FW19, Williams-Renault
1998: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/13, McLaren-Mercedes
1999: Mika Häkkinen (Finland) - McLaren MP4/14, McLaren-Mercedes
2000-2009
2000: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F1-2000, Ferrari
2001: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2001, Ferrari
2002: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2002, Ferrari
2003: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2003-GA, Ferrari
2004: Michael Schumacher (Germany) - Ferrari F2004, Ferrari
2005: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R25, Renault
2006: Fernando Alonso (Spain) - Renault R26, Renault
2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Finland) - Ferrari F2007, Ferrari
2008: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - McLaren MP4-23, McLaren-Mercedes
2009: Jenson Button (United Kingdom) - Brawn BGP 001, Brawn-Mercedes
2010-2020
2010: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB6, Red Bull-Renault
2011: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB7, Red Bull-Renault
2012: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB8, Red Bull-Renault
2013: Sebastian Vettel (Germany) - Red Bull RB9, Red Bull-Renault
2014: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W05 Hybrid, Mercedes
2015: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W06 Hybrid, Mercedes
2016: Nico Rosberg (Germany) - Mercedes F1 W07 Hybrid, Mercedes
2017: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W08 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2018: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W09 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2019: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W10 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2020: Lewis Hamilton (United Kingdom) - Mercedes F1 W11 EQ Power+, Mercedes
2021-
2021: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB16B, Honda
2022: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB18, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
2023: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) – Red Bull RB19, Red Bull Power Trains Honda
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