Fernando Alonso passed one driver after another as Max Verstappen recklessly went to victory in the first Formula 1 race of the season in Bahrain. The 41-year-old Spaniard finished third and made a big impression in his new Aston Martin. He couldn’t believe his luck after the Grand Prix.
Alonso was a bit of a disappointment at Alpine last season, but the sheer racing qualities of the two-time world champion were occasionally seen. But now, in a plated Aston Martin, it turns out he’s still a top-notch driver.
He couldn’t believe he was third behind Red Bulls von Verstappen and Sergio Pérez. “The last time I felt this good was almost ten years ago,” he said after the race. “This is a great start for this project. We didn’t expect it to be this good. In the beginning we thought of a place in the middle class.”
“It looks too good to be true,” Alonso said. “I hope it will be like that tomorrow morning. It’s like I’m dreaming. The car was going really well. I could have gone another hour.”
amazing actions
Alonso’s third-place finish really struck his imagination. His overtaking maneuvers were spectacular, especially with his old rival Lewis Hamilton.
“I enjoyed the duels with Hamilton and Sainz,” said Alonso, who completely surprised Hamilton in the tough corner ten. “It was beautiful and sturdy, one by one, full of adrenaline.”
Alonso’s best performance was already announced on test days and free practice sessions. The question now is whether Aston Martin can really compete at the top this season.
“If we are strong in the next two races, it will be a very good season. This is just the beginning. The car will be brand new and even better Red Bulls in a class of its own.
Verstappen: “Great start”
Verstappen also liked Alonso, who was once the biggest role model in Formula 1. “It’s nice that Fernando is so fast. Haven’t had a chance to drive at the front for several years. Can Aston Martin fight for the title? No idea.” . But they can win races on a track that suits them, or if they are lucky we are out of luck.”
The reigning world champion was quite happy with his own performance. It makes sense, because it almost hurt to see how easily he outstripped the competition. After the Grand Prix, Mercedes driver George Russell predicted Red Bull would win every race this season.
Verstappen said: “It’s been a great start to the season. “It’s a very good race. Getting ahead was very important. After that I was able to save a lot of tires. Strategy, pit stops, everything was perfect. We need to develop more, so I expect to see more resistance in Jeddah in two weeks (during the Saudi Arabian GP, ed.).”
De Vries is optimistic
Driving his first Grand Prix as a regular driver in Bahrain, Nyck de Vries had a tough time in free practice and qualifying. He was clearly struggling with his new Alpha Tauri car.
He also did not make a very good impression in the race, but given the circumstances, he was satisfied with 14th place. “We were able to fight in the midfield and we were competitive there. Overall I think it was a positive weekend.”
Source: NOS
I’m George Gonzalez, a professional journalist and author at The Nation View. With more than 5 years of experience in the field, I specialize in covering sports news for various print media outlets. My passion for writing has enabled me to craft stories that capture the attention of readers all over the world.
