"Alonsonism": Spain celebrates oldie Alonso
The Spanish press celebrated the return of "Alonsonism", while a British former world champion immediately praised 42-year-old Fernando Alonso as the driver of the future.
Alonso cemented his reputation as an exceptional driver in Formula 1 with his magnificent performance and impressive final laps in the duel with Sergio Pérez in the actually so superior Red Bull at the São Paulo Grand Prix.
"Well, if anyone wants to sign a great up and coming driver who I think has a great future, there's this guy who drove like an old champion today," posted former champion Damon Hill on X, formerly Twitter, linking to Alonso.
Lap after lap, Alonso kept Pérez behind him in his Aston Martin, the Mexican tried everything - and then even got past. Unlike Michael Schumacher, who hung behind Alonso in Imola in 2005, tried everything but could not get past.
Memories of the duel with Schumacher
Inevitably, memories of the duel almost two decades ago came flooding back. It was the year in which Alonso also ended Schumacher's title streak in the Ferrari, and in 2006 the Asturian-born driver won the world championship again in the Renault. In the years that followed, however, he was denied further world championship trophies. It felt like Alonso was always in the wrong team at the wrong time.
And his performance at Aston Martin as Sebastian Vettel's successor also stagnated after a terrific start to the season. Fourth place behind Pérez would have been good in São Paulo, but that was not enough for Alonso. He attacked the Mexican and world championship runner-up once again - and saved third place by a tiny 53 thousandths of a second. It was Alonso's 106th podium finish. The Spanish sports newspaper "As" listed them all individually on Monday and "Marca" wrote: "Alonso won his eighth trophy (this season) with a dance like in Imola 2005."
Alonso's cry of joy on the podium was another expression of the ambition that still drives him unabated. "We will always fight until the last lap, until the last corner," emphasized Alonso, who has by no means given up hope of his 33rd career victory more than ten years after his last success to date.
Well if any one wants to sign up a great up and coming driver I think has a great future, there was this guy called @alo_oficial who drove like an old master today 👏🏻 #f1— Damon Hill (@HillF1) November 5, 2023
Source: www.dpa.com
