Alonso's perfect race in F1, his favorite (Europe 2012)

Fernando Alonso has achieved no less than 32 victories in Formula 1, and in his 19 seasons in the top category, he has left countless magic Sundays that still shine in the fans’ retinas. But, if there is a memory that continues to impress, it is that of the 2012 F1 European GP , in Valencia.

In the heat of the newly released Spanish summer, Alonso started 11th after a Saturday in which Ferrari did not find the rhythm. The objective for the race was to minimize losses, since the Asturian arrived two points behind Hamilton in the world championship and only one ahead of Vettel, author of the pole.

The podium was an objective that seemed impossible and, starting so far back on an urban circuit where overtaking was not easy at all, the winning percentage was minimal. However, a brilliant start already put Alonso in eighth position, a position he held for the first ten laps.

From there, with a great strategy from his team, an immaculate ability to overtake and an impeccable pace, Alonso advanced to second place, and took advantage of the failure of Vettel’s Red Bull (the alternator failed) to inherit from the lap 34 (of 57) a leadership that would not let go until the checkered flag.

That exhibition not only moved the fans who followed the race on the circuit or from their homes, but also the two-time champion himself.

Years later, when he said goodbye to F1 in 2018, Alonso remembered that race as his favorite, and admitted that he did not imagine winning: “Under normal circumstances, we would not win the race again,” he said. “In 99 out of 100 cases, we would not have been in the first position”.

Summarizing how it went, Alonso said that “a great strategy, good overtaking and the many risks I took made everything go well”. And so he completed a dreamy Sunday that still gives goosebumps when relived.

It has been 10 years since that enormous European Grand Prix in which the stands of the Valencia port circuit vibrated with a magnificent comeback. There, on an abandoned track and where few remains remain of what was the F1 headquarters, the memory of that historic race remains.

Enjoy the photos of Fernando Alonso at the 2012 Valencia GP

Scroll through the images to see them all. At the top of the article, more from that Sunday

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari, second place Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus Renault

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari, second place Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus Renault

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium with Andrea Stella, C Engineer

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium with Andrea Stella, C Engineer

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari

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Photo by: XPB Images

Winner of the race Fernando Alonso, Ferrari celebrates on the podium

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Ferrari on the podium with Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Ferrari on the podium with Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus F1 Team

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari with third place Michael Schumacher, Merc

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari with third place Michael Schumacher, Merc

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Photo by: XPB Images

Race winner Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari with third place Michael Schumacher, Merc

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Race winner Fernando Alonso, Scuderia Ferrari, second place Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus Renault

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Photo by: XPB Images

Paul di Resta, of Sahara Force India; Nico Hulkenberg of Sahara Force India F1; Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG F1 and Fernando Alonso of Ferrari at the start of the race