World Champion-Turned-Outspoken F1 Critic Reserves Special Praise for Fernando Alonso for Choking Lando Norris & Daniel Ricciardo’s Race

Every weekend, Fernando Alonso solidifies his claim on the Alpine seat with powerful performances. With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, there is uncertainty surrounding his future. However, retirement is not on the cards for the Spaniard. And his impressive performances and pace will definitely earn him a suitor if Alpine doesn’t renew.

The Spaniard is as ambitious as they come, and he wants to continue competing in the traveling circus for as long as he can. And in all his years of racing, Alonso has stayed true to his style of driving. The two-time world champion has always been a fierce competitor and does not appreciate opponents passing him.

Alonso’s defending was the standard in Formula 1 for a lot of years. And despite comparatively substandard machinery, Alonso still has a knack for it. The double champion was a nuisance for the two McLaren men as he held them up while his teammate, Ocon caught up with the pack.

Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian world champion, has appreciated this exact quality of Alonso in his column. He wrote, “I would like to mention Fernando Alonso. The way he held up the McLarens and smoked their tires after which Ocon was able to catch Ricciardo”

He added, “That is experience and exactly why Alonso still belongs in Formula 1.”

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A great example of this mentality is Alonso’s “tell Esteban to defend like a lion” phrase. Alonso used this phrase in 2021 Qatar GP, which helped him secure a podium. The Lion himself keeps adding to his list of achievements as well, and he added one more at the French GP.

Fernando Alonso makes history in France by surpassing Kimi Raikkonen

The longer Alonso races, the more “All-time” records will tumble in front of him. The latest one fell at the French GP as Alonso took over a record previously held by world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Alonso surpassed Raikkonen’s all-time record of laps completed after three laps at Circuit Paul Ricard. The record set by Raikkonen was at 18,621, and after Alonso’s P6 in France; he set the record at 18,672 laps. Alonso will massively extend this record by the end of the current season.

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Alonso is tipped to continue his F1 career in 2023 as well. And we can expect to see Alonso’s name on more “All time” records.