Fernando Alonso endured an incredibly mixed Brazilian Grand Prix, where he had to deal with multiple collisions with his team-mate, a penalty and an 18th place start, yet still managed to fight his way through the field to claim fifth.
It was a truly challenging weekend for Alonso, who was incredibly vocal about Alpine after the sprint race on Saturday at Interlagos, where the two incidents with Esteban Ocon occurred.
The pair’s relationship has been questionable at times, with Ocon having a record of battling Alonso beyond the limit at times, most notably in Saudi Arabia and Hungary.
Both were at it again on the opening lap of the sprint, with the first incident having come after Ocon went down the inside of Alonso at Turn Four, which forced the Spaniard wide and over the kerbs.
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Whilst on the kerbs, Alonso almost span straight into the side of Ocon, after his rear tyres lit up dramatically.
Alonso did incredibly well to control his A522; however, the double World Champion was fully to blame for the pair’s second incident.
The 41-year-old collided with the right-rear of Ocon’s car down the start/finish straight whilst in the tow of the Frenchman.
Alonso hit Ocon due to attempting to pull out of the slipstream far too late, something he was given a five-second time penalty for.
The Spaniard was furious with his team-mate and was quick to acknowledge that their partnership is “finally” nearly over.
Sunday was a much more pleasurable day for Alonso, though, after storming through the field from P18 to fifth, which matched his best result of the season.
After the race, Alonso was a different person when he crossed the line, where he was incredibly jubilant over the radio.
“Whoa, yes! Congrats guys, a very good result. A very nice race, good strategy, a good comeback,” he shouted.
“Thank you mate, perfect execution on your side,” replied his race engineer.
Alonso is understandably beginning to look forward to 2023 with Aston Martin, a side he’s expecting to achieve great things with.
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It has resulted in some cryptic comments about the Enstone-based team, with Alonso admitting that he has at times been “looking to next year”.
“I always have fun,” he told F1 TV.
“The head can be [looking] to next year, but the heart is always with the car. When the lights go out, you’re fighting with the car and enjoying racing.”