Fernando Alonso and his challenge full of hope

Being the oldest driver on the grid is not a problem for Fernando Alonso. The Asturian has been demonstrating for more than two decades that he is one of the best in his profession, but in Formula 1 that alone is not enough to reach victory. This season the song seems set to sound very different for the Spaniard, since he will have a car that matches his abilities. In fact, betting markets now give the Asturian more realistic chances of achieving something big this season, something unthinkable just a few months ago.

Everything has changed at Aston Martin with the arrival of Adrian Newey, one of the best chief engineers in the history of the “Great Circus”. Back in the last century, the Briton showed what he was capable of at Williams. Newey designed cars such as the FW14 and FW15, considered two of the most dominant of the 1990s. These cars took advantage of active suspension and other advanced technologies, turning Williams into the dominant force in Formula 1. Drivers Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost benefited from his designs, winning world titles in 1992 and 1993 respectively. Mansell’s FW14B is still considered one of the most advanced cars in F1 history.

Although the truth is that his spell at Williams and later at McLaren seems like ancient history to the new generations of Formula 1 fans. It was at Red Bull that Newey’s legend began to take on epic proportions. With his arrival, Red Bull became the dominant team during the early years of the 2010s. Between 2010 and 2013, Newey’s designs helped Sebastian Vettel win four consecutive world drivers’ championships, while Red Bull won the constructors’ title in those same years. The 2011 RB7 and the 2013 RB9 are iconic examples of Newey’s genius, maximising aerodynamics and performance in an era dominated by aerodynamic efficiency.

With all these precedents, there is no doubt that optimism has arrived to stay in the garage at Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso has a strong argument to demonstrate on track everything he is capable of. We may well be witnessing one of the last years of the Asturian driver in the “Great Circus”, and before he retires, he wants to taste once again the sweetness of being world champion.

Long gone are the 2005 and 2006 championships in which Fernando Alonso, flying with his Renault, offered legendary duels with the ever-missed Michael Schumacher. It seems like fate, but twenty years later, the Asturian wants to dazzle the world once more, even though the task is very difficult. He needs a car up to the task, so he can look in his mirrors at superstars like Hamilton and Verstappen.

Just over a month remains before the engines roar again in F1. It is time to enjoy Fernando Alonso in his prime as a driver once more.