Fernando Alonso has a plan and is optimistic for 2022 , although he cannot neglect what he does this season. And it is that, after attacking Mick Schumacher during the Grand Prix of Turkey, the Asturian has received a penalty of 2 points in his superlicense that will expire in a year.
Although it is the first time that Fernando Alonso has been sanctioned since he returned to Formula 1, this penalty affects him for the next season. If the Spaniard is sanctioned with another 10 points between now and October 2022, he will lose a race.
After Fernando Alonso has been penalized, Daniel Ricciardo and Mick Schumacher remain the only drivers without points in their super license. Carlos Sainz will be clean when in November 2021 the only one he has for obstruction expires. Fernando Alonso has 2 per incident .
Alonso, more points than Ocon
In danger this season are Lando Norris and Lance Stroll , each with 8 points in their super license. Sergio Pérez , meanwhile, has 7 ; while Sebastian Vettel, Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin have 6 . What does not seem that the fight for the World Cup is going to decide are the penalties in the superlicense since, like Fernando Alonso , Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have two penalty points for incidents.
Like Carlos Sainz, there is only one driver with one point in his superlicense and that is Esteban Ocon . Fernando Alonso’s teammate in Alpine was penalized for an incident , something that both he and the Spaniard will have to be careful about with a view to 2022.
The importance of avoiding incidents
Both are the two drivers who have least charged the accident count for their team this year, something that Fernando Alonso boasted recently. ” Our accident account is the least loaded of all the teams, ” the two-time champion told Marcin Budkowski in an email that was leaked to the press. “ Then make sure it stays that way! ”Replied the CEO of Alpine.
And it is that the gala team has cut expenses to allocate them to the 2022 car. “ We are using a 2019 engine . Some of our rivals made gains that we have not achieved, so we are in a situation that is not ideal, because we had to delay our new power unit, ”acknowledged Marcin Budkowski.
“We did not have the resources to relaunch this year’s engine development program and continue working on 2022. Therefore, we have decided to put all our efforts in 2022 . I think it’s the right thing to do, but it’s painful, because as a result this year we lost ground to our rivals, ”added the Pole.
Go carefully
Therefore, both Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon must avoid being involved in new incidents. On the one hand, it is important that they do not fatten the accident account of your team. On the other hand, if Alpine is able to put a competitive car at its disposal for 2022, the year in which the long-awaited change in regulations will come into force, it will be important that they are not left out of any Grand Prix because of a penalty.
Enstone is confident that they will build a competitive car by 2022. ” We will make sure to build the best car ever for the next regulatory era ,” said Laurent Rossi. “I’m sure this new mayonnaise will taste good next year. We are French, so we know a thing or two about mayonnaise, ”the Alpine CEO added humorously.
In this regard, Fernando Alonso warned: “ T he car that is born well, leads the decade of that regulation. If you are in those cars, you win four or five titles ”. Also, after the Russian Grand Prix, he declared: “I am very proud of the progress. We are building a very strong team and looking to next year, hopefully the package will be competitive in the factory , but the competition team is ready to fight ”.
Like Alpine , the Asturian is optimistic for the next season: “ For 2022 dreaming is free , of course you work with that illusion. The rule change can cause the cards to be mixed in the sport, why not us? We wouldn’t be here now if we think that next year we can’t be up there ”. That is why Fernando Alonso has invited his followers to ” believe in the plan .” Said plan involves not adding a new penalty.
