Despite Favorable Home Advantage Setting Up, Fernando Alonso Makes a Downplaying Statement on Spanish GP Chances

“Fortune favors the brave.” It seems Max Verstappen is untouchable in the face of Red Bull’s dominance, especially due to his arsenal of abilities. However, Fernando Alonso has emerged as his closest challenger at the Monaco Grand Prix. Additionally, the Spaniard has had his strongest season start since his final year at Ferrari ten years ago. This has prompted not only the fans but the entire F1 community to believe that the 41-year-old is capable of achieving the coveted 33rd victory of his career that has been due for a long time. And with a few positive advantages emerging at the Spanish Grand Prix, things are starting to go more in favor of the Aston Martin driver. However, Alonso doesn’t think he can win the 33rd race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, but why?

Alonso last appeared on the top step of the podium at his home race in Barcelona. And based on how he has driven the AMR23 this year, things appear to be working to his advantage. The mix of long straightaways and turns on the Barcelona track is where the F1 circus is heading currently. Normally, it was used as the location for pre-season testing, but this year, the teams might face a variety of obstacles here.

A faster corner has replaced the slow chicane in the third sector, which was already renovated in 2021. With the third sector’s alteration, the track now only has two slow corners, and Aston Martin is anticipated to have some additional updates which will be well-suited to the AMR23. The Aston Martin car is excellent in turns and has the speed to compete with the top teams in the straight thanks to its zero sidepods.

Combining these elements with the potential for rain and Fernando Alonso’s stellar performance in races influenced by downpours and the fact that he is the only driver to have the experience of driving the old layout, we can definitely expect a close race at the Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya. Alonso has won podiums when competing in wet conditions in China in 2006 and Belgium in 2005. In addition, he finished second in China in 2007 and won the race at the European Grand Prix in the same year.

However, none of these aspects is sufficient to give Alonso a reason to be optimistic about winning his home race. The Oviedo man’s prospects of victory may be impacted by Ferrari and Mercedes’ game-changing developments. According to Formula Passion, Alonso said, “It’s a good feeling to be here with the hope of getting on the podium and maybe winning. There is a special energy every time I arrive at the Montmeló circuit, I see all the fans with pleasure. I don’t think it’s realistic to think of fighting for the win, it’s clear, Red Bull has always been dominant up to now and I see no reason why they shouldn’t look for the double here in Barcelona, ​​but let’s see what we can do. Also here everyone brings some updates, especially Ferrari, as happened with Mercedes in Monaco, we’ll see how it goes”

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Alonso is back competing at the front this year after going a number of years without finishing on the podium in Formula 1. His much-desired 33rd victory, however, was right in front of him if the Aston Martin squad had been a bit more nimble. What transpired, then, to deprive Alonso of the victory, and what has Alonso had to say about it?

How did Fernando Alonso miss on winning the Monaco GP?

Max Verstappen defeated Fernando Alonso to win the race at the Monaco circuit. Despite the fact that some analysts and industry experts contend, the Silverstone-based team should have fitted intermediate tires in Alonso’s AMR23.

The Spaniard might have finished ahead of the Dutch driver, who later stopped at the Red Bull garage after another lap. However, Alonso was compelled to pit again as the rain began to fall heavily, and it appeared that the Spaniard had lost the battle due to the error in judgment. Nevertheless, the antagonist who has been transformed into a hero by his demeanor at the Shiny Green team believes the team took the right decision.

According to BBC, the 41-year-old made a statement, saying, “Maybe – if you had the crystal ball and you know the conditions, you know who stops, who doesn’t stop, and then finally it rains and you need the inters, 100% you stop for inters. What I don’t like in F1 is that we see always the negatives and we all see everything very easy from the sofa.”

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Do you believe Fernando Alonso and Co. will pull off a surprise in the Spanish Grand Prix? Let us know in the comments below.