“Too Good to Be True”: Fernando Alonso’s Gamble Pays Off With a Hope of Achieving the Impossible in 2023

Fernando Alonso, the most experienced man by every metric possible, has finally found the right match. The man who is set to embark on his 22nd season of Formula 1 is more than elated with his new team. A happy future nobody saw coming when he made the unconventional switch to the team, which was stuck at the unwanted end of the championship tally from the leaders of midfield, Alpine. While that is ancient history, the world is now witnessing the magical manifestation of the “El Plan”.

Aston Martin made heads turn when they arrived at the Bahrain Pre-Season, testing ahead of this season’s first race. The onlookers were still skeptical, as they thought a few teams were sandbagging. However, then came the practice sessions, and Fernando Alonso transported the world back in the time around 2012. The charts every session saw him topping the list, or at least being amongst the top drivers. And the man who has placed himself ahead of the two Mercedes in the qualifying session is not hiding his joy.

As quoted by BBC, Fernando said, “It was amazing. It was too good to be true every session. To be in the top five and fighting with Ferrari and Mercedes seems a little bit unreal.”

He further added, “Again, it feels so strange that we start P5 and maybe we are aiming for more,” he said. “We thought to be honest the first three teams were untouchable this year with the advantage they had last year. But now we start P5 and we fight with the Ferraris for the podium and this is just incredible. Let’s keep on going, keep the feet on the ground, execute the race with no mistakes and see where we are.”

Read More: “Overhated and Underrated”: Unlikely Plaudits for Lance Stroll as the F1 World Salutes His Bahrain Heroics

While the new recruit of the team is elated with joy, he seems to be happy for the man lining next to him.

Fernando Alonso was impressed by his teammate Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll had an accident before the testing which saw the reigning Formula 2 champion and Aston Martin reserve driver, Felipe Drugovich, get behind the wheel. While many thought the Canadian couldn’t be back for the season opener, the man defied the odds and came back. His teammate at the shiny green team, Fernando Alonso, is impressed by the sheer zeal of junior Stroll.

Impressive,” Alonso said. “Every lap he does, I am congratulating him because it is not easy what he is doing.”

He further added, “This shows how determined he is to get a good result and good career in F1, his passion for the sport, which sometimes is not really sold like this because Lawrence [Stroll, Lance’s father] is the [team] owner, but this weekend he is showing a lot of things to everybody.”

Watch This Story: Most Dangerous Crashes in F1 History

Does Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin have it in them to pull out the impossible? Will Fernando Alonso’s “El Plan” work out the day that it matters?