Alpine’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso celebrates on the rostrum following the Qatari Method One Grand Prix on the Losail Worldwide Circuit, on the outskirts of the capital metropolis of Doha, on November 21, 2021. (Photograph by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)
Fernando Alonso had feared he would possibly by no means stand on a Method One podium once more till the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix ended a report seven-year wait on Sunday and noticed the double world champion hailed as driver of the day.
The 40-year-old Spaniard completed third on the Losail circuit for Renault-owned Alpine to cap his comeback season after two years out.
What a second for @alo_oficial in Qatar as he clinches an unimaginable P3 end and a spot on the rostrum! 🎧 🙌#QatarGP 🇶🇦 #F1 pic.twitter.com/Cr6XrysJcj
— Method 1 (@F1) November 21, 2021
The final time Alonso stood on the rostrum was as a Ferrari driver in Hungary in 2014, when he completed second, and the 105 races between successive podiums had been the longest hole but for the game.
To place the wait into perspective, the final time followers noticed Alonso on the rostrum was earlier than Crimson Bull’s present 24-year-old championship chief Max Verstappen — second on Sunday — made his Method One debut.
“Lastly. We had been very shut on a number of events and I used to be simply questioning if I’ll get one podium once more in my profession, or not,” stated Alonso. “You by no means know what’s going to occur subsequent yr.
“I’m pleased that we took this one and let’s see if we are able to maintain the momentum for subsequent yr.”
Alonso gained his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and has 32 wins to his credit score — placing him sixth on the all-time listing — with the final coming in 2013 when he completed runner-up within the championship with Ferrari.
He moved to McLaren in 2015 in what turned out to be a nightmare partnership with Honda and left on the finish of 2018 — going off and profitable the Le Mans 24 Hours twice and competing within the Dakar Rally and Indianapolis 500.
He returned to F1 this yr with renewed vitality on the renamed Renault crew.
Whereas French teammate Esteban Ocon took a shock victory in Hungary in August, Alonso’s fourth in that very same race was his greatest displaying to this point this season.
He began third on Sunday after Verstappen took a five-place grid penalty and Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas dropped three from third.
Alonso made a robust begin to seize second place from AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly, earlier than ceding to Verstappen, and dropped to fourth till Crimson Bull’s Sergio Perez pitted and he stayed out.
An anxious late section on worn tires was then eased by a digital security automotive.
“Seven years, however lastly we obtained it,” he stated earlier than celebrating with former McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, now a seven-time world champion at Mercedes, who took his 102nd profession win. “I used to be ready so lengthy for this. I’m pleased.
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