After being proclaimed champion in 2005 and 2006, and after being runner-up three times with Ferrari, Fernando Alonso felt lost during his last spell at McLaren. That is why the Asturian decided to move away from Formula 1 to be able to return with a different mentality after having successfully completed other challenges.
“ In terms of happiness or how I feel when I return, it is better than I expected . Honestly, I have to say that I really enjoy every weekend, I really enjoy driving ”, acknowledged Fernando Alonso. “ On weekends when there are no races, I miss the Grand Prix . So now that we have three races in a row, I’ll have fun ”, he added.
Regarding the time he has been away from the Gran Circo, Fernando Alonso has pointed out: “ The two years out of Formula 1 were necessary for me . It had to be done after 18 non-stop seasons, with full dedication to Formula 1. There came a time when it was too demanding ”. “I had other goals in my head with Le Mans, with Daytona, with the Resistance, and so on. I had to mark those boxes in green to feel happy and free, and to be able to return and have fun ”, he acknowledged.
“ I noticed how I was wasting time in Formula 1 without being able to complete those challenges . Now that I have fulfilled them, I feel more free and I enjoy every weekend here ”, Fernando Alonso continued.
The new reality: “Be prepared for the day you have a good car”
However, the Spaniard is aware that he will not win this season with Alpine. Maybe the next one, when the regulation change comes into force, something that Fernando Alonso has also alluded to: “ Running in the middle zone is like facing a completely different sport . When you have a car with the possibility of winning it is something else. All you do when you don’t have a performance to win the championship is prepare for that moment. You have to be prepared for the day you have a good car ”.
And it is that the Oviedo has returned with the hope of having that option. “ People who are competitive love to win in everything they do in life , not just in Formula 1 or motorsports. I think that once you’ve had a taste of victory, you hate losing for the rest of your life . And I think that is enough motivation, “said Alonso.
The happiness of Fernando Alonso
Days ago, the two-time champion made a statement in a similar vein. “I honestly think the joy and excitement is probably greater than I expected . I’m enjoying every lap out there and I enjoy the preparation, the meetings on the set-up of the car. I enjoy things that used to be the worst part of the weekend . Now I enjoy that on the weekend. Not only the time on the track, but also off the track I enjoy more than in the past and I’m surprised because you can’t plan how you are going to feel when you come back ”.
Then, Fernando Alonso took the opportunity to emphasize that he has nothing to prove: “ It is not about proving anything. I was already quite satisfied with how everything went in my Formula 1 career , but I really enjoy racing. I discovered that passion even when I was out of Formula 1, because of the way I enjoy all the scraps I did, I even surprised myself a little about how I needed to have a steering wheel in my hands. Even two free weekends at home, he was preparing a go-kart race or something because he needed to drive. So after finishing the Dakar, I had the possibility to return to Formula 1 ”.
Finally, he justified his return to the Great Circus: “ I studied other categories, but I think that Formula 1 was the only one healthy enough after the pandemic , which can ensure a competitive championship and races and weekends with some normality, so that was the motivation after my return and the love for racing and for Formula 1 ”.
