‘If you are not performing, you will not reach 400’ Fernando Alonso feels his ‘record’ number of starts show his passion for the sport
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Fernando Alonso
Even if he did not finish the race, Fernando Alonso became the joint driver with the most Grands Prix starts in Formula 1 history. He shares the record with Fernando Alonso, and both made their debut more than 2 decades ago, at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. As of today, both drivers have 349 starts to their name.
But that will not be the case any longer, simply due to the fact that Kimi Raikkonen has retired from the sport. Alonso, however, is still going strong. He is set to take the record for himself in two weeks’ time in Singapore if all goes well, and he’s already the driver with the most distance covered in Formula 1.
At 41, he’s still one of the best drivers on the grid, and has a multi-year contract with Aston Martin, whom he will join next year, and he will put quite a bit of distance between himself and Raikkonen. The next closest driver to him on the grid is Lewis Hamilton, 45 starts behind. Alonso thinks as much himself, and he is sure that he will at least reach 400 Grands Prix.
Also Read: Three drivers who could replace Fernando Alonso at Alpine?
Fernando Alonso happy to stay in Formula 1 till at least 2024
Fernando Alonso is already the most ‘experienced’ Formula 1 driver on the grid, as well as in history. But he’s likely to extend his lead at the top significantly, and as per Motorsport.com, he looks to be aiming as such. Alonso said of the shared record: “I know the number [of starts] because every weekend we keep repeating it, but I’m not into this so much.”
Alonso is happy to have been part of Formula 1 for so long: “I’m happy to be in Formula 1 for so many years, and with the two more coming, or whatever, however long I will be in Formula 1.” and added that ‘the’ number shows his passion for the sport: “I will reach 400 for sure, so that’s a big number. It shows my passion for the sport and my discipline to perform at the high level.”
Of course, the Spaniard is still one of the best drivers on the grid, and that is why Aston Martin and others in the past have shown so much faith in him, and he knows this, as he said: “If you are not performing, the team will not give you 400 grands prix, for sure.”
It also seems that the fact that his place at Aston Martin not being assured, and their reluctance to offer Fernando Alonso a multi-year played a large part in him leaving Alpine. Him leaving Alpine also created a big mess at the team, and a hole they have yet to fulfil.
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Aniket Tripathi
(1002 Articles Published)