Fernando Alonso "coin in the air" to shorten road to victory

Fernando Alonso in the United States GP — Photo: © LAT Images

Alpine

Alonso "coin in the air" to shorten road to victory

Alpine revealed a 100 race project to hit the front of F1 earlier this year

Sam Hall

Thursday 4 November 2021 09:30

Fernando Alonso has described the incoming 2022 regulations as "a coin in the air" as he aims to reduce the 100 race plan for Alpine to be winning races.

In early October, Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi revealed a "100-race project" across "four years, four seasons" for the team to reach the summit of Formula 1.

After making his F1 return with Alpine this year, Alonso will spend a second year with the team in 2022 and by the end of that season would be 41 years old.

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Although drivers have continued beyond this point before, Alonso was asked if he could afford to wait this long for success.

“Let’s see. I think let’s do it step by step," explained Alonso.

"I think the first thing is next year, with the change of regulations, you never know how competitive everyone is going to be next year because it is a coin in the air at the moment with all the big changes on the cars.

“Hopefully we can make that 100 a little bit lower. We will put all our efforts and all our work into this project and hopefully help Alpine to succeed as soon as possible.”

Having twice achieved world championship success with Alpine, then Renault, Alonso believes the team is making the correct steps to progress up the order.

Key to this success has been a consistent run of points finishes, a run that ended at 15 following a double DNF in the United States.

“I think the team, it is better and better every race and I feel it," added Alonso.

"From the beginning of the year, I think we identified some weaknesses that we had as a team. We knew some strengths as well and I think we worked on a few different areas and now the team is much stronger.

“We make less mistakes, we are more prepared on the weekends so even if the package or how competitive we are doesn’t allow us to fight for podiums or victories every Sunday, I think as a team we are quite strong."