Alonso travels to Australia to stop Red Bull

‘CheckAt the age of 33, he achieved it, starting ‘pole’ two weeks ago. fifth victory Ever since he raced in F1 glowing at night in Jeddah. His teammate is on a city circuit where Dutch winner Max Verstappen, who won in Bahrain, maintains his World Championship lead after returning from the fifteenth spot on the grid; and only after marking the fastest lap in the race (on the last lap). This gives him a one point advantage over the Mexican in the tournament standings (44-43).

Alonso is third in the World Cup 30 points, He signed the hundredth podium in the first class in Arabia, where his compatriot Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) finished sixth. Second in just two weeks; third in one year and four months (Qatar since 2021); and almost fourth out of nine: a span of time since he achieved his final year with Ferrari in 2014, when he finished second in Hungary.

The big sensation of the start of the season, the Asturias double world champion signed off on the shores of the Red Sea. a round trip podiumAfter winning on the track and then recovering – after celebrating third place with Verstappen and ‘Checo’ at the awards ceremony – they penalized him by ten seconds. So for a few hours third place went to the British George Russell (Mercedes) and finally finished fourth in Jeddah.

Alonso was penalized by five seconds for not framing the AMR23 perfectly in his starting line box (second). While serving this punishment, his ‘pit stop’, one of his mechanics shoved his car lightly with a jack; therefore, after failing to do so for 35 laps, they announced a second ten-second penalty after the podium ceremony.

Fernando, who beat ‘Checo’ at the start and later reclaimed first place, was unimpressed by a ridiculous penalty and was delighted to see his car gone too after driving on a highly abrasive track with a few slow bends at Sakhir. Good in Jeddah. On a track, the fastest in town, It has very different characteristics from its predecessor with much less wear on the tires.

Aston Martin reacted quickly after the Jeddah race. He presented up to seven audiovisual evidence of numerous cars in the same condition as Alonso’s that had not received any sanction; and the FIA ​​(International Automobile Federation) He had no choice but to fix it. and after two absences in his twentieth season in F1, where he won the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and (twice) Le Mans 24 Hours (France), among others, he restored third place to the brilliant Asturian driver. . He learned the news almost as he boarded the plane leaving Saudi Arabia.

F1 where the Spanish language is becoming more and more important (Sainz is fourth overall with 20 points: the same as seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes) comes to the third scenario of the season this weekend: Semi-urban circuit of Albert Park.

Melbourne’s A 5,278 meter course and fourteen bends (five left); traction and medium-speed cornering, where top speed is not so decisive. And in dry weather – it rained in the state capital of Victoria on Tuesday – it will be hit with tires in the intermediate compounds range. same as used in Jeddah; namely: C2 (hard, recognizable by the white stripe), C3 (middle, yellow stripe) and C4 (soft, red).

Due to the different features of the track from the previous ones; After this Grand Prix, it will be possible to make a more approximate estimate of what to expect from the longest season in history, which will conclude on 26 November in Abu Dhabi. 23 races in total.

Alonso returns to F1 track 22 years ago; in 2006, when he won his second championship, he achieved one of his 32 first-class wins and achieved the first almost twenty years ago; and so far the last makes almost ten.

He finished second in Albert Park last year after ‘Checo’ Monegasque charles leclerc, Sainz’s teammate at Ferrari. The most successful team in history, which did not pass fourth place in the Builders World Championship, is already clearly led by Red Bull; Aston Martin and Mercedes share second place.

In Australia, Fernando also suffered the most spectacular crash of his F1 career in 2016; when, after touching, when he will pass it, Mexican Haas Stephen Gutierrez, fired several times, turning; Fortunately, before he left the McLaren he drove that season (given the magnitude of the accident) almost unharmed.

The free practice for the third Grand Prix of the course will start on Friday (night Thursday through Friday, Central European time) and will be completed on Saturday, hours before qualifying; this will command the starting line-up of the race. Scheduled for 58 lapsTo complete a 308.1 kilometer route; Departing at 5am GMT: 7 am Spanish peninsula time.

Alonso will be the center of attention again. It doesn’t leave anyone cold. And from Miami (USA) he received a message of support from another great player of Spanish sports: world tennis number one, Carlos Alcaraz, a star from Murcia; He warned that “33rd will come soon” as he signed into the room after eliminating American Tommy Paul in the 16th round of the Florida tournament. With clear reference to the following triumph of the genius of Asturias; It is eagerly awaited by all its followers.