Of Grit, Gumption and Glory: Fernando Alonso
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Everyone is driven by something, some by passion, some by desire, some by dreams and some by ambition. If one man who can be said to be the embodiment of all of the above, it’s Fernando Alonso. Formula One’s Spanish Knight, Fernando is an extremely talented driver, the best amongst the grid. Now in 15th year of his career, the Spaniard has certainly been relegated to the back of the grid yet he continues to give his best in hope that the tides will turn in his favor and he’ll find himself in a car fit for fighting for a world title, something that has eluded him since 2007.
Looking at Fernando It doesn’t dawn upon that the last time this champion stood atop the podium was in 2013 or that he won his 2 titles way back in 2005 and 2006 ending the Schumacher reign in process. But it indeed has been so long and no one knows how much longer will it take for him to get there if at all he gets there. You gotta feel for Alonso after driving a sub par Ferrari car for 5 years and coming agonizingly close to the title all on the strength of his own talent and abilities twice but failing for Maranello could not provide him a competitive car, he left for McLaren only to fall to the lower ranks while Ferrari became 2nd best behind Mercedes. Although perspectively it mattered little to him for he had experienced the same four years in a row with the team yet being with Ferrari the opportunity to claim podiums would have been his and certainly those 3 wins do add to the allure.
All of this is a big ‘what if’ now and the biggest heartache if any that Fernando harbors must be his annus horribilis of 2007.
So after clinching 2 world titles with Renault, Fernando still moved to McLaren although that was the right decision proven by The Woking based team’s competitiveness. A whole lot depends on the car, of course. McLaren’s 2007 MP4-22 was arguably the last great F1 car Alonso drove. He has challenged for the title in a Ferrari a couple of times since, but the best seat has always lain elsewhere – emphatically so in 2012, when only his own brilliance took him to within three points of another title. In terms of personal performance, that season could well stand as the high watermark of his career.
The real story for Alonso starts at the end of 2005 when after bagging the world championship, he announces moving to McLaren from 2007. His Renault contract was going to expire in 2006 and the Spaniard decided it was time to move to pastures anew and on the back of a major title sponsorship signed by McLaren to take effect from 2007, the Woking based team seemed the best bet. So in 2006 while he was busily fighting for yet another title, things were shaping up for the worse for the Spaniard. In 2005, McLaren had a choice of pairing him either with the Cuban Montoya or the iceman Raikkonen for the 2007 season. However in 2006, the fin was being coveted by Ferrari and the allure of NASCAR racing was pulling Montoya. Mid season and Montoya confirmed the move and come the season end Kimi jumped ship.
Alonso had little premonition of the tempest that was rapidly approaching him and teaming up with a rookie and on the back of a contract that promised him a Numéro Uno status, there was little reason to be worried about.
The reality only hit him when the rookie overtook him at the first corner at Albert park.
The storm had arrived and it was only going to get worse.
2007 is forever etched in the memories of fans and delving anymore would require another article on its own.
Ever since then a capable car has always alluded him and his decisions has proved him wrong more so in 2008 when he skipped both Honda’s and Red Bull offers trying to place himself for a Ferrari drive.
Getting close to the title twice all on the basis of his own talent and grit redeemed the Spaniard.
Even at 35 years of age he drives with the same fervor as ever, driven by his desire of a third world title, pushing all the way having pinned his hopes on the legendary alliance of McLaren and Honda. The years have been tough but progress is evident how much of it materializes and the potential it shows will determine whether he continues on or moves to pastures anew.
So next year could very well be the last time we see Formula One’s Spanish Knight at the helm of an F1 car and this thought makes you wonder will he lay his hand on that shiny silverware? Will ever return to the top of the podium step?
Only the coming years would decide and if he does decide to call it quits in F1 his story will go down as that of Grit, Gumption and Glory.
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