Alonso reveals he is not at 100% on F1 comeback
Alonso reveals he is not at 100% on F1 comeback
Fernando Alonso has revealed he is not yet at 100 per cent as he prepares to make his Formula 1 comeback with Alpine this weekend.
The two-time world champion left the sport at the end of 2018 after a tough year with McLaren-Honda but was tempted back this season by the team he won his two titles with in 2005 and 2006 when it was known as Renault.
Alonso confirmed his comeback before the start of last season and despite working hard to get back up to speed ever since he still feels he will be rusty when he returns to competition this weekend.
“It always takes time and I’m not 100 per cent yet,” confirmed Alonso. “I am happy where we are now but I think in a couple of more races I will feel more comfortable.
“Even in the cockpit, the seat, we are still making small modifications, better position, there are things that we will keep adjusting.
“I think it’s the same for many people and for many drivers that have changed team. Some just need to re-adapt a bit to the new aero regulations, the tyres. You always feel more comfortable after five or six races. For me, it is no different.”
Alonso scored 50 points and finished 11th in the drivers' standings in his last season with McLaren.
During his time away, he raced in WEC for Toyota, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2019, and also finished 13th in the Dakar Rally with co-driver Marc Coma in 2020.
The 39-year-old spent the second half of last season in the F1 paddock building a rapport with the engineers and becoming accustomed to the sport’s technology before clocking up over 200 laps in pre-season testing.
Despite such preparation, he added: “There are no guarantees that I will be as in 2018, but I hope so.
"When I was preparing to come back I was trying to focus not only physically but also technically, trying to be up to speed in F1 language, which is sometimes more technical than some other categories.
“It was nice to be back with other people on track [in pre-season testing]. I did a couple of tests with the 2019 car [last year] but I was alone on track so it was nice to have that small competitive feel about you.“
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
F1 News Today: Horner reveals Verstappen SECRET as team reveal surprise name change
- 24 minutes ago
Ferrari announce DRASTIC change as Verstappen issues dire warning to bosses - GPFans F1 Recap
- Today 00:27
Hamilton sends strong message over Gaza deaths
- Yesterday 22:57
F1 giants announce name change with IMMEDIATE effect
- Yesterday 21:57
Horner admits Red Bull at MAJOR disadvantage with new rules
- Yesterday 20:57
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
- Yesterday 19:57
Related news
Alonso and Taylor Swift rumours reignited by new album lyric
F1 star PENALISED following controversial Chinese GP incident
Alonso hints at F1 retirement date after historic contract
Alonso takes CHEEKY dig at Hamilton after signing F1 contract
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860