Indeed, while nine podiums in total allowed Alonso to notch up the runners-up spot for the third time in four years, he was becoming frustrated at Ferrari’s inability to penetrate Red Bull’s stranglehold on the world title with relations reportedly cool between himself and top management. The role earned him a test and reserve driver role, which saw him get behind the wheel of an F1 car during private outings. By this stage the upper hand seemed to be favouring Red Bull’s Mark Webber and McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, before Alonso hit his stride with three wins in four races (Italy, Singapore and Korea), However, it was form mirrored by the rapidly advancing Sebastian Vettel in the Renault-powered Red Bull, setting up a tense threw-way title finale in favour of Alonso (246), Webber (238) and Vettel (231). Eventually, however, Vettel got to grips with the Pirelli architecture and assisted by a streak of four late season wins headed into the final three events back ahead by ten points. Although victory was always unlikely in his uncompetitve McLaren, it means -- unless he returns to F1 -- he leaves the sport having never claim a win at what he regularly cites as one of his favourite circuits on the calendar. Having left McLaren under something of a cloud in 2007, Alonso returned with renewed optimism courtesy of its new tie-up with Honda, which evoked memories of their devastating dominance with the likes of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost between 1988 and 1992. That pushed Alonso into Charles Leclerc, with the orange car spectacularly crashing over the Sauber. The incident looked very similar to one of the most notable of Alonso's career. Sending him soaring over the Haas and barrel-rolling against the left-side barrier, the destroyed McLaren came to rest propped up against the Armco in the gravel trap. As such, he found himself circulating in seventh and unable to get past a slower but stubborn Vitaly Petrov in the top speed superior Renault, with an agitated Alonso famously taking to the radio to convey his frustration at a title slipping through his grasp. Among Alonso’s many statistical highlights, he remains the seventh youngest driver to start an F1 race at 19 years and 218 days, his 32 career wins places him sixth on the all-time list of race winning drivers, while he is just one shy of Ayrton Senna in fifth. At the start of the 2012 edition, Romain Grosjean -- then driving for Lotus -- misjudged the braking zone and was pitched into an almost identical crash over the top of Alonso's car. Despite ongoing rumours that he would seek a way of his McLaren deal, Alonso stayed on board for 2017 in the wake of Zak Brown coming on board as CEO after Ron Dennis was forced out of the company in 2016. The move came with full backing from McLaren, which released him from duties of competing in the Monaco Grand Prix as a result (more below). However, in what would prove to be a closely-matched campaign that kept four drivers in close contention until the final stages of the year, Alonso wouldn’t top the podium again untl Round 11 at the Hockenheimring. “Fernando is conscious and well in himself and is awaiting further medical examinations tomorrow morning.” In Verstappen vs Hamilton, F1 finally has the fight it's been waiting for. Alpine issued a statement on Thursday evening saying that Alonso was "conscious and well in … With Alonso announcing his decision to quit Formula One at the end of the season, the incident could well be the last at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit. Driving with the Zak Brown-owned United Autosports team at the wheel of a Ligier JS P2 alongside Lando Norris and Philip Hanson, the trio would prove quick but the car frail as it laboured to 38th at the finish. With McLaren proceeding to go into partnership with experienced outfit Schmidt Motorsports to compete as the Arrow McLaren SP team for a full season of IndyCar in 2020, Alonso joined the set-up for a third tilt at Indy 500 glory. The violence of the crash ripped much of the engine cover off the side of the McLaren. With the decision coming relatively late in the day in the context of of the ‘silly season’, Alonso resumed relations with Renault for the 2008 F1 season, itself looking to revive its fortunes after a disappointing 2007 campaign in the wake of its talisman’s exit. Has Mercedes regained the advantage already? He became the youngest driver to win an F1 World Championship since Emerson Fittipaldi, while it marked Renault’s first F1 title as a constructor. Marty & McGee drive an Aston Martin through LA ... what could go wrong? F1 commentary legend Murray Walker dies aged 97, Layout for Saudi Arabia street circuit revealed, Red Bull a 'different animal' in 2021, says Hamilton, Your comprehensive guide to Formula One preseason testing, The women who power F1: Engineers, mechanics and directors on their role in changing a man's world, Hackers, Brady and Bond: Ranking the best and worst of F1's virtual launches, Ferrari launches new car with two-tone livery. Le double champion du monde espagnol a été renversé par une voiture lors d'une sortie à vélo en Suisse ce jeudi 11 février. As such, with new McLaren boss - native American - Zak Brown seeing it as a good marketing opportunity for the brand to distract from its faltering F1 fortunes and with Honda supplying engines in the IndyCar Series, a deal was struck that would see Alonso race a McLaren-liveried Honda-powered Dallara prepared by Andretti Autosport, the latter of which the Brown also had an interest in. With Webber all but putting himself out of contentiuon after pitting early due to excessive tyre wear, Alonso found the pole-winning Vettel his biggest threat in the race. With rivals wary that Renault had artificially engineer a deliberately timed crash to assist Alonso, it wasn’t until the following year that the allegations were proven when Piquet Jr - scorned at losing his seat mid-season due to disappointing results - revealed he had been asked to crash intentionally. His eye-catching efforts in unwieldy machinery quickly won Alonso fans among the sport’s upper echelon and he was subsequently brought under the wing of Flavio Briatore, who promptly added him to his driver roster under Renault, which was returning to F1 as a fully-fledged constructor in place of Benetton. F1 approves qualifying sprint race for three 2021 events, The blame game: Analysis of the Bottas-Russell clash and what happens next, Russell apologises to Bottas in social media post, Hamilton fights back from spin to finish second, Bottas and Russell out after massive collision, Wolff: Russell lost sight of bigger picture in Bottas clash, Russell asked Bottas: 'Are you trying to kill us both? His 97 career F1 podiums also places him sixth on the all-time list, including 15 set consecutively between the 2005 Turkish Grand Prix and 2006 Canadian Grand Prix, while his total career points of 1899 places him third overall, though this statistic is skewed by the greater points awarded in later years compared to former compatriots. He has also competed in the Dakar Rally, won the Daytona 24 Hours sportscar race and is an FIA World Endurance Champion. The two-time world champion is "conscious and well in himself" … Fernando Alonso statement released as F1 star to remain in hospital after surgery Fernando Alonso has undergone surgery on a fractured jaw after being involved in an accident while cycling. During the angry exchanges between Alonso and Dennis post-qualifying the Spaniard embroiled himself in the ongoing ‘spygate’ scandal which alleged McLaren employee Mike Coghlan had been in contact with Ferrari’s Nigel Stepney with regards to the theft of intellectual property. It will the first time Alonso has competed in F1 since 2018 when he concluded an unhappy four-year tenure with McLaren that failed to meet the expectations of his previous race-winning days at Renault, a Mercedes-partnered McLaren and Ferrari. Alonso's comeback race ended by sandwich wrap, Ricciardo to drive Earnhardt's 1984 car after first McLaren podium, Formula One is off and running, and Lewis Hamilton picks up where he left off. 1. VIDEO: What next for Pierre Gasly’s future in F1? However, after Hamilton fluffed his chance of a record title win by sliding off into retirement during the previous Chinese GP, gearbox issues ultimately slowed him Brazil as he laboured to seventh. Fernando Alonso - Toyota Gazoo Racing LMP1 [2019], Hamilton and Verstappen respond to Mercedes-Red Bull F1 engine staff transfers, What do F1’s drivers make of Barcelona’s new Turn 10? Williams releases 2021 car images after app hack, Aston Martin to supply F1 with safety and medical car, Revised F1 calendar: Imola returns and Australian GP moved to November, Schumacher name gives motivation every day, says Mick, Mazepin 'not proud' of conduct in controversial video, Aston Martin reveals first F1 car for 2021 debut, Tom Brady welcomes Aston Martin back to F1, Vettel 'at peace' with poor performance in 2020, Alpine reveals Fernando Alonso's 2021 F1 car, Mercedes reveals first images of new W12 car, Hamilton: Eighth title won't be deciding factor in staying beyond 2021, Mick Schumacher hopes for more promo runs with Michael's cars, Perez calls first Red Bull test 'a dream come true', Ferrari to build hypercar for Le Mans return, Legendary F1 designer Murray names latest car after Lauda. However, with Briatore eager to hone Alonso’s skills he was instead charged with intensive development work in a test driver role for the year. The 2021 Formula 1 season has only just begun, but so far it has been so evenly matched between Lewis Hamilton... 29-04-2021 08:49. However, this didn’t stop him becoming vociferous in his criticism of the Honda power unit - partricularly an obvious disparity in top speed compared with rivals - famously branding it a ‘GP2 engine’ during the firm’s home Japanese Grand Prix when he was being easily overtaken. Issues worsened when Alonso was involved in a curious accident which speared him into the wall at an unusual point on the circuit. Credited with helping team rediscover its form after a dismal 2001 campaign, Alonso was subsequently - if controversially - given the nod over Jenson Button for a race drive in 2003 despite the Briton’s strong campaign after interest was shown by rivals Jaguar.. With the Renault proving competitive on Michelin rubber, Alonso was rhe revelation of the season and quickly proved a frontrunner despite his year out of competition, proving quicker than more experienced team-mate Jarno Trulli. F1 driver Alonso leaves hospital after cycling crash February 15, 2021 GMT FILE - In this file photo dated Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, former Formula One driver Spain's Fernando Alonso as he walks on the track ahead of Sunday's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix, at …