Alpine are in a better position than they were last season, where they barely managed to fight to be at the top of the midfield and although they remain the fourth force in Formula 1, on certain weekends when they rival Mercedes, They are still far from their main objective, to reach victories.
However, within the team they are positive, and after scoring points for seven consecutive Grands Prix, Fernando Alonso is one of the strengths of the French to continue developing their car in the future. The latest statements that come from the upper echelons of Enstone ensure that both the Spaniard and the main candidate to replace him if he left, Oscar Piastri , will be on the 2023 grid.
That means that the Oviedo native is almost guaranteed his presence in Alpine next year, but before that he faces a race full of memories, that of Hungary, where he won his first win in Formula 1 and where he became the youngest driver in the history in climbing to the top of the podium, in 2003, with only 22 years and 26 days.
In addition to that, the good feelings at the French Grand Prix, where he was consistently sixth, make the last appointment before the summer break a marked one on the calendar: “It was a good Sunday for us after a weekend difficult [at Paul Ricard]. We had a hard time finding the right set-up during practice and weren’t entirely happy with the balance until just before qualifying.”
“However, we have shown that when we can have a clean weekend, aiming for the top seven positions is a very realistic target for us, as we feel quite comfortable in the race,” said the two-time world champion.
The memories of Fernando Alonso at the Hungaroring are very sweet, as he not only won the Grand Circus for the first time, but also helped Alpine make their debut as winners after their stage under the Renault name.
“Obviously Budapest was where I got my first Formula 1 win,” said the Spaniard. “We had a good car that year and we were building something very strong for the next few years, but we weren’t expecting a win that year.
“I think we found the circuit that really suits our package. Of course, it was there last year too, which was Alpine’s first win,” recalled the two-time champion. “The race also usually falls around my birthday, so it’s a good weekend for me, with a lot of memories, and it’s hard to pick one.”
“It’s a fun track and a real challenge as a driver, with its tight and twisty nature,” said Fernando Alonso, who turns 41 this Friday and seeks to join the exclusive list of only seven winners over that age.
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