This Saturday, July 29, 2023, Fernando Alonso turns 42. The Asturian driver, one of the greatest figures in Spanish sport, is still in the gap after two decades in Formula 1 (he made his debut with Minardi, in Australia 2001 and He was absent from the World Cup in 2019 and 2020). During all this time he has contested 367 Grand Prix, winning two world titles (2005 and 2006, with Renault) and three runners-up (2010, 2012 and 2013, with Ferrari), along with a total of 32 victories, 104 podiums and 22 pole positions. .
Some are obsessed with Alonso’s age – “It seems that I was 42 for a long time and this Monday I will be 43”, Fernando jokes. But the truth is that the Spanish pilot is going through a moment in an exceptional way, which has allowed him to conquer six podiums with Aston Martin this season. After a long journey since he left Ferrari, he has found an unbeatable environment in Lawrence Stroll’s team, who made him an irresistible offer last year “without looking at his passport”, when Alpine was reluctant to renew him for two seasons.
party and disappointment
For all these reasons, today was an important day at Aston Martin and the team wanted to show Alonso its gratitude, surprising him with a birthday party in the box. just before the start of sprint qualifying. Engineers, mechanics and team leaders have received him in the garage with balloons, candles and a cake handed to him by team boss Mike Krack as everyone sang ‘happy birthday’.
A special moment. ????#BelgianGP pic.twitter.com/xk5UriYmDy
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) July 29, 2023
The party, however, did not end as expected and joy soon gave way to desolation, when the two Aston Martin drivers, Alonso and Lance Stroll, were left out of Q3 due to a tremendous strategic error.
Qualifying started late due to rain and in the last minutes of the second round, the track began to dry out. The teams have considered the possibility of mounting slicks, but have ruled it out for wait for Q3. All except Aston Martin, which has inexplicably made Stroll come out with means.
The Canadian driver has complained about the lack of grip, but the team has encouraged him to try to set a time. In the first sector Lance has been competitive, but in the second, the most twisty of Spa-Francorchamps, he has lost control of his AMR23 and has crashed into the wards.
The accident caused a red flag with 29 seconds to go, preventing Alonso from completing his fast lap, so both Stroll and Alonso were eliminated prematurely. Aston Martin’s ruling has ‘condemned’ him to fifteenth position on the grid in the sprint race. “The session is not going to resume, we are out,” his track engineer told him over the radio. “Yes, yes, I know,” Fernando replied, devastated.
2023-07-29 13:59:30
#Alonso #party #downturn #hour
