Overview
- Fernando Alonso told The New York Times it “blows my mind” that the new season marks 20 years since his last Formula 1 championship in 2006.
- He won back-to-back titles with Renault, then lost the 2007 crown by a single point at McLaren and later finished runner-up three times at Ferrari to Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull.
- Alonso noted his last F1 victory came in 2013 but said it has never felt like he lacked the ability or opportunity to win again.
- During his time away from F1 he won the World Endurance Championship in 2019 and took two Le Mans 24 Hours victories, achievements he views as major career satisfactions.
- Now entering a fourth season with Aston Martin, he points to six podiums in the first eight races of 2023 as validation of his form, while former boss Flavio Briatore credits Alonso’s 2005 title with helping introduce F1 to Spain.