F1: Fernando Alonso Set For 2022 Contract Renewal At Alpine

At 39 Fernando Alonso is not only a veteran, but a legend considering he is a 2-time world champion, the one to dethrone Michael Schumacher's run of 5 consecutive world titles. In 2018 he left the sport disillusioned with the lack of competitiveness his car had since the days he left Ferrari. But in 2021 he's back and after a few slow races, he is now handily dominating his teammate Esteban Ocon who also got a contract renewal recently. Alonso joined on a one year deal and Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has revealed that he's considering enabling the optional extension seeing the tremendous performances of the legendary Spaniard. 

"He is doing great," Rossi told BBC Sport.

"He is as fast as ever. He is certainly extracting the most out of the car. The car is not incredibly fast and he still manages to get some super-hot laps and qualify the car very well. So far, so good. He is doing everything for me to consider exercising this [contractual] option," said Rossi when pushed about a potential renewal for the 2005 and 2006 world champion. 

Alpine has been tottering behind the likes of McLaren, Ferrari and AlphaTauri 

Alonso has put in a couple of masterful performances in the last few races. He finished P7 in the sprint race with an incredible start and then also finished P7 in the main race. Alonso himself expressed a desire to remain in F1 till 2024. 

The Spaniard however will be 40 later this month and will be the second oldest guy on the grid after Raikkonen. He is currently P11 in the world championship fight with 26 points compared to his teammate Ocon who is P13 with just 14 points. 

"It is incredibly easy to work with him so far. It has been six months, and I don't recognise the Fernando that people describe. We both expect the same thing from the team. Always challenging any decision, any status quo, to systematically take things a notch up: 'It is never enough," Rossi added.

Alonso is considered to be amongst the most skillful and determined racers on the grid
Photo Credit: AFP

"Getting a point is not good. Getting two points is not good. Finishing second, when it happens, is not good enough. Finishing first - we need to keep being first.' I like this attitude. It is challenging everyone all the time but very respectfully. And he can do it because he has proven himself so it is not like he wants to deflect responsibility," said the Alpine CEO. 

In his time away from Formula One, Alonso won Le Mans twice and competed very impressively in the Dakar rally while also unsuccessfully competing in the Indy 500. Rossi was anointed the CEO of the brand after former Renault F1 chief Cyril Abiteboul was fired earlier in the year.