Alonso should have ‘25 to 30 points’, not two

Jamie Woodhouse
Fernando Alonso stands arms folded at Imola. Italy, April 2022.

Fernando Alonso, Alpine, standing on the grid at Imola with his arms folded. Italy, April 2022.

Fernando Alonso believes that his points total so far in 2022 should be significantly higher, such is the early bad luck he has suffered.

Since Formula 1’s major regulatory overhaul prior to the 2022 season, Red Bull and Ferrari have established themselves as the clear leading forces in the opening rounds.

Behind that the midfield order has been subject to change, with Alpine often showing a level of performance strong enough to make them midfield leaders.

Esteban Ocon has put that performance on display with a pair of P7 finishes and a P6 with four rounds gone in 2022, putting him on 20 points so far.

Looking at statistics alone, they would tell you that Alonso has not been performing well enough, scoring only two points so far, but that tally is far from a true reflection of the way he has started this season.

Instead, Alonso has regularly been a leader in the midfield pace wise, while at the Australian Grand Prix he was piecing together a Q3 lap which was putting him in the hunt for pole, that was until a hydraulic failure caused him to crash.

Fernando Alonso's damaged sidepod. Imola April 2022
Fernando Alonso's damaged sidepod after the Alpine driver was hit by Mick Schumacher at the start. Imola April 2022

And that somewhat sums up Alonso’s campaign so far, the Spaniard having also been forced to retire from the Saudi Arabian GP while on for points, while at Imola he was hit by Mick Schumacher, which later caused a sidepod on his Alpine to blow, forcing Alonso’s retirement.

So, without so much bad luck, Alonso suspects he would be the lead scorer at Alpine on “25 to 30” points by this stage.

“I think there are a lot of unfortunate moments for me so far in the championship, out of my hands or out of my control, and this is another example,” he said, quoted by Mundo Deportivo.

“I’d rather finish the season better than start it well and then finish it badly. But at the same time, obviously, when you watch the races on TV, and I’ve been watching too many at the moment, to have only two points in the championship when I should have maybe 25 or 30… that’s painful.”

 

Alonso will be hoping for a change of fortunes come the next round, that being the first Miami Grand Prix emanating from the Miami International Autodrome.

 

Another missed opportunity for Alonso and Alpine

A struggle once again for Alpine on Sunday, as Esteban Ocon came home outside the points, and Fernando Alonso not even finishing.