The future of Fernando Alonso: first the new Formula 1, then the return to Le Mans and the dream of Indianapolis

Fernando AlonsoIn his 40s, “he’s getting older but he’s still fast.” They are words of Max verstappen in the past Hungarian GP, in which the Asturian finished 4th in an anthological and chaotic race (with the Dutchman crashing into the wall because of Lewis hamilton).

Fernando Alonso makes history at Le Mans: the first time a Formula 1 takes a lap on the complete circuit

Between that race and the next round of the championship, the Belgian GP, ​​Alonso has been able not only to rest but also to return to one of the temples of motorsport where he wrote two lines of his legend: the Le Mans circuit. At the wheel of a 2018 Renault painted in the current colors of Alpine became the first driver to lap the more than 16 kilometers of the legendary La Sarthe track with an F1. Beyond the milestone, the image left by the French brand is a statement of intent.

Fernando Alonso has a contract with Alpine until 2022. The Asturian returned to Formula 1 for one last dance with the aim of dealing with the assault on the long-awaited third championship that has narrowly escaped him on several occasions, taking advantage of the regulatory change that (presumably) is going to shuffle the cards again in the Grill. That, and no other, is your top priority.

Your commitment to Alpine means you have to park your trips for other appointments. After several unsuccessful attempts in the Indianapolis 500, Alonso promised that will return to the oval in the future but when he has definitely left Formula 1. It is the last piece that is missing to complete the Triple Crown and his challenge remains to match what only Graham hill he has achieved in the competition, although he is possibly the most difficult of the three.

The cruellest finish in the 24 hours of Le Mans: Robert Kubica’s car loses the victory on the last lap

But in his return to the paddock at Le Mans He has found an environment that he likes, a competition that makes him fall in love with and has once again noticed that ‘itch’ that only Endurance races generate, that still leave surprises in the last moments after 24 hours on the track, as was well demonstrated at the end of this unusual 2021 edition.

The 24 hours of Le Mans 2023: the greatest possible centenary

The FIA, the ACO (organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans) and the IMSA (American endurance championship) began a collaboration a few years ago with the aim of joining forces and turning the WEC into a super championship in which all technologies coexist. The objective is not only to make a World Cup more attractive whose top category was a unrivaled toyota martial ride, but also the adaptation to the new times with more efficient, competitive and modern racing cars.

From that union, two types of cars were born that will end up coexisting: the Hypercars, which are already in competition since this year, and the LMDh, which will combine the WEC and IMSA regulations with common cars from 2022. This novelty has made many powerful manufacturers sign up for what is going to be a new golden age of sportprototypes, such as Peugeot, Ferrari or, the latest on the date of publication of this news, Cadillac.

The display he made Alpine in the run-up to the 24 hours of Le Mans of this 2021 is not more than one declaration of love to the championship, and the certainty that they will continue in the competition for many years. At least two more, until the longed-for 2023.

That year will be fulfilled 100 years from the first time around the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so everyone is eager to be there. The aforementioned Peugeot, Ferrari and Cadillac are joined by those already present Toyota and Glickenhaus (this one with many asterisks), in addition to Porsche, Acura, Audi, BMW … and Alpine.

Fernando Alonso and the value of seniority: “If I ran now against my 23-year-old self, I would beat him with one hand”

In 2023, Alonso (except surprise) will have already finished his contract with Formula 1, but by no means will he have ceased to be competitive. He has always said that as long as he feels good he will continue to put on his gloves, put on his overalls and put on his helmet to get into a car, be it an F1 or Indy car, or a Le Mans prototype, or even a SUV from the Dakar (another of his promised returns).

Seeing how interesting the future of the Resistance is getting, it is clear that the Spaniard will return sooner rather than later to that world, and in 2023 he is in the egg: who would want to miss the long-awaited centenary of the world’s greatest race?