Fernando Alonso doubled his 2022 points tally at the Spanish Grand Prix, after an excellent recovery drive saw the Spaniard finish ninth at his home event.
After a disappointing qualifying, Alonso opted to start from the back of the grid to allow changes to be made to his car.
Both Alpine drivers appeared to have much faster cars during the race than they did during qualifying.
Having only recorded two points prior to his home race, his ninth-place finish means he’s doubled his current 2022 points total to four, putting him fifteenth in the championship.
It’s been a tough start to 2022 for the double World Champion, who has shown strong pace at most Grand Prix this season.
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Alonso should be on considerably more points, however, reliability problems and bad luck have seen the Spaniard drop out of the points on more than one occasion this year.
Alonso is in need of a good season, with his current deal with the Alpine F1 Team set to expire at the end of 2022.
The Spanish driver is yet to seal a drive for 2023, but is reportedly eyeing up a move to the Aston Martin F1 Team.
Despite the rumours linking him to Aston Martin, Alpine are still going to “consider” Alonso for next year.
Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper that the team’s line-up for 2023 hasn’t been thought about yet.
“I can imagine many things,” said Szafnauer when asked about Alonso’s future with the team.
“We have not started to seriously consider things for next year because we are still so early in this season.
“But of course we have to consider Fernando.
“He is a great competitor and he is very integrated and happy with the team. And for those reasons We’d be very foolish not to consider extending his contract.
“But these kinds of decisions are made a little bit later in the year for all the teams,”
Esteban Ocon is already contracted to remain at Alpine next season, leaving just the one seat.
It appears to be between two drivers, Alonso and 2021 Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri.
Piastri was disappointed not to find a seat for 2022, and will most likely have a seat somewhere on the F1 gris next season.
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The Australian is considered to be possibly the next big thing, having won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships in back-to-back seasons.
Piastri is currently Alpine’s reserve driver and is highly regarded by the team.
Szafnauer insists though that any decision will be made later in the year, with the British Grand Prix being rumoured as when the French side will announce their 2023 plans.
“It’s just because the timing of all of the teams means that traditionally things are done a little later,” concluded Szafnauer.