Alonso Reflects on Title Fight with 2010 Abu Dhabi Parallel

Fernando Alonso has weighed in on the current title fight, drawing a striking parallel to his own championship heartbreak in Abu Dhabi in 2010. The veteran driver emphasized the unpredictable nature of Formula 1, reminding everyone that even championship leaders are not immune to strategic missteps or unexpected events.

Why it matters:

After years of intense, often dramatic, championship battles, Alonso's insights provide a timely reminder that F1 titles are rarely decided before the final lap. His experience in 2010, losing the championship due to a crucial strategic error involving a safety car, highlights how quickly fortunes can turn, injecting a new layer of tension and unpredictability into any tight title race.

The details:

• Alonso's 2010 Parallel: Alonso recalled the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where a wrong strategic call during a safety car period cost him the championship, despite leading the standings. He noted a similar scenario with McLaren in Qatar recently, also involving a safety car and a debatable strategy.
• Unpredictability of F1: "You always think that the leading guy has an advantage because he has some margin in terms of results and you can take it a little bit easier, but F1 is unpredictable," Alonso stated to GPblog.
• Verstappen's Remarks: When asked about Max Verstappen's claim that he would have won the championship earlier if he were in a McLaren, Alonso acknowledged Verstappen as an "incredible driver" who extracts the maximum from his car, but dismissed such hypothetical scenarios as mere guesses.
  • He emphasized that all drivers believe they can win with the best car, but such questions are ultimately unanswerable.
• Verstappen's Engine Choice: Max Verstappen remained tight-lipped about which power unit he plans to use for the decisive Abu Dhabi weekend. This follows Red Bull's previous strategic engine changes, including fitting a new unit in Brazil and opting for a used one in Qatar to avoid penalties.

The big picture:

The championship fight often boils down to more than just raw pace; strategy, reliability, and sheer luck can play equally decisive roles. Alonso's historical perspective underscores that no lead is truly safe until the checkered flag, and even the most dominant drivers and teams must navigate the sport's inherent unpredictability.

What's next:

All eyes are now on Abu Dhabi for the season finale. The engine choice for Verstappen's RB21, combined with the strategic calls made by teams, could be critical. As Alonso highlighted, the ghost of 2010 still lingers, serving as a cautionary tale that championship dreams can be made or broken in an instant, even for those at the very top.