On Sunday, Fernando Alonso turned back the clock at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The veteran F1 driver was in excellent form as he rocketed to a 3rd place finish at the new venue. This broke a seven-year podium drought and delighted the Spanish double world champion. Additionally, his sensational performance drew high praise from the legendary Mario Andretti.

The Italian-American declared that it was a finely calculated and a well-deserved podium. Furthermore, he insisted that the 40-year-old was the driver of the race. In all honesty, Andretti was right, as Alonso kept his head and stayed ahead of most of his rivals. In addition to that, he pulled off some stunning overtakes in his Alpine Racing car.

Of course, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were in a race of their own. However, the dogfight behind them was one for the ages. At one point, Alonso had barged his way up to 2nd, until a fast-charging Verstappen took over 2nd place. With a podium firmly in his sight, the Spaniard was bullish on the track and even spurred his team on. This also included his teammate Esteban Ocon, who he encouraged to ‘defend like a lion’.

Fernando Alonso was sublime in Qatar

Alonso said, “It means a lot this trophy because you are up and down in your career, there are good moments, bad moments, but we show always determination. The dedication that you put into Formula 1, you have to dedicate all your life for this sport. Training, testing, simulator, racing and this passion and this love for the sport, this is exactly why we do this. For this kind of moment.”

Now, Fernando Alonso will be looking forward to the final two races of the 2021 season. Next on the hit list are Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi, so the double world champion will want to close out the season on a high.

READ MORE: F1 Race Report: Punctures Galore in Qatar as Hamilton Beats Verstappen After Bottas’ Luck Goes from Bad to Worse