His is one of those stories that we never get tired of listening to. A very long story that has brought an entire country to the top of the world for two seasons in a row. Fernando Alonso, with almost 41 candles to blow out, 2 world titles, and more than 340 Grands Prix in your pocket he doesn't just want to run for fun, but to achieve a goal. Asserting yourself over others by beating every opponent. And not everyone knows that a Baku, just a couple of days ago managed to beat a historical record, which belonged, since 2012 to one of the greatest of this sport: Michael Schumacher.
The longest career (or carrera) in history
Fernando Alonso, the man of impossible feats and with a tough character like the mountains of his Asturias, on June 12, 2022 he officially set the longest career record in history.
7.763 are the days that separate Michael Schumacher from his debut on August 25, 1991 with Jordan, to his final farewell in the Brazilian GP on November 25, 2012. 21 years, 3 months and 8 daysInstead, the time that goes through the history of Fernando Alonso in the top category, which began on March 4, 2001, 7.770 days ago.
A love, the one for racing, blossomed from an early age, and never waned. He was only 3 years old when he started putting his foot on the accelerator, never to leave it again. At 7 the first official "recognition" in the Asturian championship. From the beginning he has always been the smallest in the categories in which he raced. This, however, has never stopped him from winning with frightening regularity. A talent that emerged spontaneously, of those that cannot and must not be suppressed, like an erupting volcano. A bit like that of someone who, in 2007, entered McLaren like a crazed boomerang to take the crown away from the king of the savannah.
The roar of the lion
Fernando has never outspoken. That comparison "on par" with a very young man Lewis Hamilton, it freaks him out. Because teamwork is fine as long as he wins anyway. In his many years of career, Fernando has moved on a thread that has led him to choose between heart and head. He won and lost a lot, but always remained true to himself.
Back in Renault in 2021 he found another young boy to join him, Stephen Ocon. French, then a small diamond for the team. Just with Esteban last year the Spanish rider won the confrontation "at home". Although he contributed to the Frenchman's only career success, in Hungary. A favor, which does not suit Alonso's character, but which is nonetheless the emblem of the growth and wisdom gained by the Spaniard, in the years in which he "detoxified" himself from Formula 1.
After a start, quite dramatic a start of the 2022 season, with the growing rivalry with Ocon and the prospects of a renewal that seemed to stall, Fernando he has shown that he has not lost the enamel or armor that distinguishes him. The Prince of Asturias, with the 7th place of the Grand Prix in Baku, and that in Munich, both concluded in front of their teammate, hopes to have opened a positive cycle. One of its characteristics is that of being in continuous metamorphosis. Able to reinvent itself, to overcome – or at least try to do so – every obstacle that presents itself.
His future seems safe for now, since Oscar piastri, a young talent from the Alpine nursery, seems destined for a chapter in Williams, as an official F1 debut. Also, not everyone knows that Oscar Piastres, Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Esteban Or with, Daniel Kvyat they have something in common besides the passage in the Formula. They are all pilots, more or less young who grew up driving Fernando Alonso-registered karts.
The plan to return to winning a world championship for Fernando still seems far away. However, one more year only increases the chance of succeeding, or at least trying to. Even with a few wrinkles, or extra white hair.
