Fernando Alonso’s response when asked if he could win F1 title with Mercedes or Red Bull
Fernando Alonso is a ‘winning’ driver says Lewis Hamilton
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Fernando Alonso believes he could win a third World Championship if he was piloting a Mercedes or Red Bull car in 2021. Alonso returned from his 2018 retirement this season ahead of the impending regulations set to shake up the sport in 2022.
He signed with Alpine – who had rebranded from Renault, where Alonso won two world titles in 2005 and 2006 – and has been stuck in the crowded midfield for much of the current campaign.
The Spaniard has shown flashes of his old self, and he qualified in the top five last time out at Istanbul Park for the Turkish Grand Prix – his best showing in qualifying since the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
Alonso’s 32nd and last win came at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, but blame can be placed on the machinery at his disposal rather than the 40-year-old’s talent.
Former F1 driver Mark Webber recently heaped praise on Alonso and labelled the Spaniard as ‘a bit of a magician’ on any given circuit.
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Alonso himself believes he would be able to compete for the world title if he was in the cars driven by rivals Max Verstappen and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
“That’s difficult to answer,” Alonso told F1-Insider when asked if he could win the title in a Mercedes or Red Bull.
“But, yes, I would have the confidence to race for the title. But Lewis and Max are doing a great job in their teams. So there is no clear answer to that.”
The two-time world champion has said in the past that he believes his current ability is better than when he retired in 2018.
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Should Alpine have a car capable of consistently competing at the front, Alonso will be ready to add more silverware to his legendary collection.
“Mainly because I am more experienced,” he said. “I know better what a car needs to be fast in the race. I can handle pressure better today.
“I also know much better today how to optimally set up and prepare for a race weekend. Not only on the race weekend itself, but also in the time leading up to it.
“It is also important how to get 100 per cent out of the car and the team. That has a lot to do with experience.
“In my comeback year, I learn something new every weekend. For example, I’m not yet perfect in qualifying when it comes to feeling the optimum grip of the tyres.
“I’m maybe at 80 per cent there at the moment. Next year it should be almost perfect.”
Formula 1 returns to Texas for the United States Grand Prix on October 24, with Red Bull’s Verstappen holding a slender six-point lead over Hamilton.
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