Why Did Fernando Alonso Return to F1?

Two years since marking his return to F1, Fernando Alonso has shown us why he, more than anyone, deserved the seat vacated by Daniel Ricciardo at Renault. His game remains strong, and after having taken a bet on the radical changes introduced in 2022, the Spaniard seems to have made the right moves in the paddock. In a brief period of over two years, he has 100 podiums, a splendid car, and, most importantly, the determination and passion to drive and win! His return has thus been marked as remarkable, and after witnessing just two races this year, it is undoubtedly successful.

All the talk of the town in 2020 and 2021 was, “Fernando Alonso is back! The two-time Formula One World Champion is returning to the grid in 2021 with the Alpine F1 team.” Alonso’s return to Alpine marks a reunion with the team that gave him his first win in Formula 1 back in 2003. He won both of his World Championships with the team in 2005 and 2006 and has always held a special place in his heart for the French manufacturer. Formula 1 quoted the Renault team principal Cyril Abiteboul, “The strength of the bond between him, the team and the fans make him a natural choice.”

Alonso left McLaren at the end of the 2018 season, following a terrible second stint with them. Furthermore, he found success as he explored his options, where he also won the World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

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The Spaniard was no stranger to adapting to new challenges when he came back to the pinnacle of motorsport. He had competed in a variety of different motorsport disciplines during his career. This includes endurance racing and the Indianapolis 500, as he attempted to complete the prestigious triple crown of motorsport. But alas, a comeback was planned and is indeed successful.

Fernando Alonso’s reasons for returning to F1

For Alonso, his return to Formula 1 is not just about reliving past glories or adding to his already impressive list of achievements. He saw his return as an opportunity to help Alpine climb up the ladder and compete with the top teams in the sport. As he said, “It’s a great source of pride and with an immense emotion I’m returning to the team that gave me my chance at the start of my career and which now gives me the opportunity to return to the highest level.”

Alonso’s experience and determination were vital to Alpine’s runs in 2021 and 2022. The team was looking to make progress during the 2021 season and build towards a more competitive campaign in 2022. They roped in Alonso to get the most out of his knowledge of the sport and his ability. 

As Alonso himself stated, “Their progress this winter gives credibility to the objectives for the 2022 season. I will share all my racing experience with everyone from the engineers to the mechanics and my team-mates. The team wants and has the means to get back on the podium, as do I.”

Last year, as we all say, things didn’t end well between the team and the driver. However, it was as realistic and close as one can get to a fairy tale ending.

“This is a very high luxury,”: Fernando Alonso 

As many as 20 drivers can get a full-time seat on the grid in a year. To have faith in himself to return to the sport after having competed in it for almost two decades, Alonso took a big step when he left McLaren. And later, things worked out well for him. Alonso stated in 2022 that he had more fun than he had anticipated, making his F1 come back, and that he had a “good year” overall.

He, as quoted by Motorsport, added, “On-track and off-track, I did enjoy the time with the team, and in this comeback, I was super happy. I had the luxury to come back to the sport when I decided. When I decided, I stopped. When I decided, I came back. This is a very high luxury.”

“Normally it is a very small group of drivers that can drive in Formula 1, and it’s not easy to have these kind of possibilities. I felt thankful for this.”

Fernando Alonso’s return to Formula 1 was a welcome sight for fans of the sport. The Spaniard is and until the end of time will remain a true racer at heart. His return was not just about adding to his already impressive legacy. With his experience, determination, and passion for the sport, Alonso proved to be the perfect man to lead his former team, as well as Aston Martin. 

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Having assumed the same role as that of a senior driver at Aston Martin, Alonso is making big moves within the team and has already visibly become their first driver. An exciting season rests ahead of the Spaniard, with plenty of things resting upon his shoulders. On the other hand, Alonso’s return ensured that there will still be a few experienced heads around to guide the next generation of drivers, as he remains the only one alongside Lewis Hamilton from the previous generation of racers.