Archive. And Alonso’s favorite race is…

La Formula 1 had reserved special treatment for the farewells of Fernando Alonso last weekend in Abu Dhabi. In addition to the usual festivities towards the double world champion, a press conference allowed us to find out which is the most important race in the Spaniard's F1 career.

“A handful stand out in terms of performance and execution”, he introduces. It is neither the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he was at the time the youngest world champion in the discipline, nor the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his first success in F1. No, the most significant event for the Asturian is the 2012 European Grand Prix, contested on June 24 on the urban circuit of Valencia (Spain).

“If I had to choose just one, it would probably be Valencia 2012, a race I should never have won », says Fernando Alonso. His meager 11th time in qualifying on Saturday was not to turn into a success, especially on a track then renowned for its processions. “The car wasn't particularly fast that weekend, we weren't even in Q3."

Fernando Alonso believes that the success was an important architect of this day of glory in front of his fans. “If I had played it 100 times, I would have lost it 99 times. » In 2012, Fernando Alonso wielded a Ferrari far from being above the rest: correlation problems between wind tunnel analyzes and the track, lack of grip and low speed on a lap. However, before this GP, he leads the general classification, thanks to combative driving (victory in the rain in Malaysia).

Galvanized by his public, the leader of the Scuderia overtakes three competitors at the first braking. He climbed again and again, reaching fourth position when the Safety Car intervened to clear away debris from a puncture between Heikki Kovalainen and Jean-Éric Vergne.

There, he snatches third place from a Lewis Hamilton delayed in his pit stop. Then it boldly overflows Romain Grosjean from the outside of the first turn from the green flag. Finally, he took advantage of the cruel retirement for Sebastian Vettel, with an alternator failure on the 34th of 57 laps, to take control!

“Perfect strategy, good overtaking, big risk-taking, everything worked perfectly, remembers the winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2018. We weren't in a dominant position, but I still won. Yes, this is probably the race I would remember. »

During his parade lap, he proudly brandishes a Spanish flag and stops in front of a stand filled with delirious supporters. The emotion could be seen on the face of the proud Iberian, who said at a press conference: “It’s really hard to put into words how I feel. Winning a race at home is something unique, a very special feeling.

I am very proud to win this round in front of stands full of spectators in red. This is probably my best emotional victory. Nothing can compete. » Fortunately he took advantage of it: between June 24, 2012 and the 2018 Abu Dhabi GP on November 25, the Spaniard only won three events in F1.