Fernando Alonso‘s rise in the last three races is nothing short of the stuff great movies are made of. A down and beaten champion of the yesteryear, fighting still in his 40s, and suddenly he hits the jackpot with a move to a downbeat team who together bounce back? That script would sell for millions. After his three back-to-back podium finishes, the Asturian made a confident statement. That statement may not please his fellow Spaniard and grid rival, Carlos Sainz.

Before Fernando’s arrival, Aston Martin was going through a rough patch. The team was struggling to cope with the ground effect regulations and it showed in the results. It got to the point of Sebastian Vettel calling it quits on his career to end the misery he was going through with the team. However, with the Spaniard’s arrival, the Silverstone-based team has found a will to fight for the top honors.

Is the genius of Fernando Alonso a matter of concern for Carlos Sainz?

The recently concluded Australian GP was as thrilling as an F1 race can get. With three red flags and multiple crashes, the fixture gave fans a bang for their buck. The restart after the 2nd red flag-induced stoppage was chaotic, to say the least. Sainz ran into the back of Alonso in P3, spinning him around. The 2-time champion, however, wasn’t fazed as he quickly told his team to refer to the rule book urging them to ask FIA to restore the pre-crash positions.

Discussing the incident in a recent episode of the F1 Nation podcast, Tom Clarkson said, “It’s like he’s driver, team principal, technical director, strategist, all in one, isn’t he?”

Natalie Pinkham: “Yeah, Fernando Alonso, just sublime. Anyone who doubted his return to the grid has been silenced this season.”

Clarkson: “Completely agree. It’s such a great story. Funnily enough, Pedro de la Rosa was telling us last week just what a huge story he’s become once again in Spain and Fernando himself has commented that the whole of the Barcelona race track is going to be one big Fernando Alonso ‘grandstand’, is the word I think he used.”

Pinkham: “How’s Carlos Sainz going to feel about that? He must have thought that the baton had been handed on to the younger generation.”

Read More: Red Bull Maestro Adrian Newey’s Banned F1 Innovations’ Anecdotes Revealed by Former Mercedes Man: “Breathtaking”

Fernando’s calm-headedness as carnage ensued around him even left former champion Jenson Button in awe.

Alonso’s knowledge of rules better than FIA stewards?

After Fernando and Carlos’ crash, another big one followed. To avoid becoming a part of the pile-up, Pierre Gasly steered sharply to his right without realizing that his teammate Esteban Ocon was right there. The Alpine duo crashed and caused the third red flag of the race. Amidst all this, Fernando was in touch with his team on the radio urging them to remind the stewards of the rule which they eventually ended up enforcing.

The hosts of the Red Flags podcast discussed, “He gets hit, gets absolutely spun around and his whole race is f*cking ruined. What does he do? They ask him if he’s okay. He goes, ‘I’m fine check rule 36, sub-section B. In Silverstone, we go back to 1 lap, I got my place back’. ‘Is the car fine?’ ‘Yes the car’s fine. Check the rule’. And even Jenson Button goes, ‘this guy is a genius’.”

“Like he just got hit, his brain is still buzzing, he’s got a micro concussion. He knows the rules better than the FIA. Like Fernando Alonso knew what was supposed to happen while he is spinning around. Make him the head of the FIA.”

Watch This Story: How the 2023 Australian GP Chaos Unfolded in Melbourne

At 41 years of age, Alonso is as sharp as he’s ever been. Not just behind the wheel, but in his quick thinking as well.