The start of the 2022 Formula 1 season did not go as Fernando Alonso expected, who saw how his Alpine let him down every time he tried to score points in the race. Several consecutive reliability problems meant that the Spaniard could hardly harvest in the first rounds, although the one from Oviedo was as fit as ever, and in Australia he came to fight for pole position.
However, he didn’t get back into this battle on a Saturday until the Canadian Grand Prix, where rain greatly helped the two-time world champion get to the front of the grid.
Some very competitive free practice created many expectations in the Enstone garage, and he finished among the best in all the sessions. However, this is something usual for Alonso and his team, since, as he himself acknowledged, they are usually at the top on Fridays and deflate on Saturdays.
In Montreal, when the traffic lights went out to start the ninth qualifying of the 2022 season, Alonso was, as always, for all, and shone in both Q1 and Q2, but had to finish the job in the final round . With a lap that was 6 tenths behind Max Verstappen, the driver who achieved pole position, obtained a front row that gives him options to be on the podium in the race.
“It’s been great, it’s been an incredible weekend for us,” said the Spaniard with a smile on his face after finishing 2nd at the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit. “We have been competitive since Free Practice 1, where we usually are, but also on Saturday we are used to losing something.”
“It was ‘mega’ today, I was very comfortable with the car, and the fans gave me that extra push,” said the Alpine driver, before revealing what he will do when the lights go out on Sunday. “We will see, I think I will attack Max [Verstappen] in the first corner.”
In this way, Fernando Alonso returns to a front row of the grid in Formula 1 from his pole position at the 2012 German Grand Prix , when he was still with Ferrari in the highest category of motorsport.
Then, in words to DAZN F1 , he was happy, but at the same time cautious: “The truth is that I am happy. In FP3 we were first in rainy conditions and we thought that the others had not pushed very hard and that it was an unreal position. But from Q1 I saw that we were more or less around there, first, second or third. The truth is that last lap was exciting, trying to get the most out of the car.
“It was in special conditions, we know that, but you have to enjoy it, and try to finish the job tomorrow. There are no points on Saturdays. On Sunday you can make a mistake in the first few laps and all the good work ends, so you have to be very focused.
Alonso is aware that the Alpine will not allow him to really fight against Max Verstappen, but at the start he does not hide that he will try: “I’ve been telling him for 20 minutes, to see if I make him a little nervous. But I don’t think so, even if it happens at the start you know that sooner or later they will pass you”.
“In some races we’ve seen them get a puncture on the first lap or something and they always finish ahead, so the real position I think is fifth or sixth to seventh, I think sooner or later we’ll fall there during the race, and we’re going to try to finish in the best possible position”.
Finally, regarding the problems that his teammate Esteban Ocon pointed out in his car, he replied: “Well, he had problems since FP3. The truth is that my car behaved well and has given me that confidence to push”.
