Fernando Alonso says achieving a third Drivers’ World Championship in Formula 1 would be an “unprecedented” feat due to the time that would have transpired since his last title success.
The Spanish driver was hailed the youngest World Champion in history in 2005 with Renault before following that up with a successful defence of his title in 2006.
But despite being involved in three final-round shootouts over the next six seasons, a third title continued to evade Alonso’s grasp.
Alonso hasn’t participated in a title battle since, however, with a disastrous switch from Ferrari to return to McLaren in 2015 subjecting him to four years in largely slow and unreliable machinery.
Looking back on the reason for his initial retirement at the end of 2018, Alonso says he felt his consistently high-performance level wasn’t getting the rewards it deserved.
“When I retired, I was in low hours, and I didn’t want that because my performance, my competitiveness, was as high as always then, but people didn’t see it,” he told The New York Times.
After two years away racing in other disciplines – including success in the Le Mans 24 Hours – the two-time F1 champion marked his comeback with the Enstone-based outfit, currently run under the guise of Alpine, where he won his two titles.
Alonso has since made the move to Aston Martin for 2023 and has enjoyed a spectacular start to life at his new team with four podiums in the opening five races.
Aston Martin, who sit second in the Constructors’ Championship, has emerged as the surprise package of the season by establishing itself as a front-running force, leaving even Alonso surprised at its rapid rate of improvement.
“Now I’m showing that I’m still fast, no matter how old I am, that’s part of the story of the return,” he revealed. “Winning the 33rd or fighting for a championship would add even more drama to the story.
“I was confident in the project and I felt that it was a nice adventure for me at the end of my career, to start with a team that has so much desire and good prospects.
“But I thought it would take longer to reach a certain level, that maybe in 2024 we could fight for podiums. I didn’t expect the car to offer the performance we have now.”
Although Alonso appears to keep defying age with stellar performances, the 41-year-old recognises that he doesn’t have long left when it comes to competing in F1.
However, the Oviedo-born racer admits he already upholds plans to be associated with the Aston Martin name in some capacity after he hangs up his helmet for good.
Before then, though, he has his eyes set on achieving that elusive third F1 title to complete the “perfect” story for his long-standing career in the sport.
“I am aware of my age. I know I won’t be here for the next ten years, so, somehow, when I stop competing, I’ll be linked to the team in some way,” he added.
“Winning a Championship would be perfect. If I win another Championship, so many years after the previous one, that distance between two Championships would be unprecedented. That’s my goal right now.
“Also the legacy that I want to leave in this sport, that of someone who loves him so much that he continued to compete for many years at the highest possible level. That would prove a point, which was part of my return.”
