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Iconic 2005 Japanese GP – Alonso’s Legendary 130R Overtake on Schumacher That Overshadowed Raikkonen’s Heroic Win

Published 09/18/2023, 11:30 AM EDT

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We would like to take you on a trip down memory lane. A trip that will baffle you and make you appreciate the already incredible Fernando Alonso a lot more. The 42-year-old Spaniard was always an ambitious F1 driver, but back when he was 24, he made a move so daring and fearless it took the shine away from the win. Moreover, Alonso made one of the most daring overtakes in the sport’s history on none other than the legendary Michael Schumacher. Intriguing, right? Let us paint a mental picture for you!

via Imago

Back in 2005, as recalled by F1’s official website, Alonso ended the reign of Schumacher by winning his first-ever driver’s championship driving for Renault. The Ferrari legend did not have an answer to Alonso’s incredible form, proof of which he received again during the penultimate race in Japan when Alonso had already wrapped up the championship.

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During the race on the Suzuka Circuit on the 19th lap, Alonso made the gutsiest overtaking maneuver in the sport’s history. The high-speed, as high as 250+mph, move was fearless and symbolic of the times to come. Alonso moved past Schumacher on the outside of the fearsome 130R corner. The Spaniard went flat out on the left-hander without a shred of fear, perhaps the confidence of winning your first championship.

To Schumacher’s credit, despite many accusations of foul play in the past, he left plenty of room for the potentially hazardous move from Alonso.

Chink in Michael Schumacher’s Impenetrable Armor Exposed as Fernando Alonso’s “Epic” Barrier Breaking Ability Gives Him Edge in Heated Debate

The incredible move from Alonso back in 2005 still stands as one of the greatest overtaking moves in the sport’s history. The maneuver took the limelight away from a masterful drive from Kimi Raikkonen, who clinched his 7th win of that season.

Getting back to Alonso’s topic, the Spaniard enjoyed another successful season but nothing post-2006. This is exactly why he warned the reigning world champion Max Verstappen to not overshoot and make the same blunder he did.

Fernando Alonso issues a cautionary tale to Max Verstappen and not make the same blunder he did after his triumph over Michael Schumacher

Verstappen broke his championship duck under similar circumstances and against similar opponents as Alonso. The Dutchman not only won the championship in 2021, he did so with sheer dominance in 2022.

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However, it may feel like there’s no stopping Verstappen in 2023 and the near future as well. This is exactly what Alonso’s warning highlights. There are no guarantees in F1 and he warned the young Dutchman to be as vigilant as day one. Alonso’s failure to do so has left him empty-handed until now after his two championships.

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via Reuters

“There are no guarantees. When I won two Championships, I thought that I would win a few more and that I would have a lot of victories, so Max cannot relax, because things can change quickly,” he warned.

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WATCH THIS STORY: Fernando Alonso Displays Never Seen Before Positive Attitude Despite Huge Aston Martin Blunder

The Spaniard has learned from his mistakes and is the most experienced driver not only on the grid but in the sport’s history. We’re sure Verstappen listened to his advice with ears wide open.

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Written by:

Mahim Suhalka

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Mahim Suhalka is a senior F1 Author at EssentiallySports. Having written over 1000 articles, Mahim specializes in core sports coverage. Having followed the sport for a long time, his articles contain excellent analysis of the sport and he dives deeper into the technicalities of this complex sport.
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Edited by:

Akash Pandhare