Why Alonso isn't actually celebrating his 300th F1 race

As part of the Canadian Grand Prix contested in Montreal, Fernando Alonso was rewarded through various receptions from his team McLaren. The 36-year-old Spaniard officially celebrates his 300th participation in a Grand Prix in Formula 1, and received gifts including special boots.

Thanks @alpinestars for the 300th edition. #fernando300 #canada #f1 pic.twitter.com/wWFKgBKzj7

- Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) 7th June 2018

But taking a closer look at the statistics, it turns out that the two-time world champion (2005 and 2006) did not actually participate in 300 F1 races. If the Bull of Asturias has indeed taken part in 300 racing weekends since his debut in Melbourne (Australia) in March 2001 on a Minardi, his starting counter on Sunday is displayed at 298 (data stopped before the GP of Canada 2018). Have we been lied to?

There is indeed two rounds that Fernando Alonso did not compete in. The first GP without the Spaniard dates back to 2005, Indianapolis (UNITED STATES). Yes, it is indeed this famous weekend marked by the withdrawal of all single-seaters shod with Michelin tires because of a risk of the gum bursting on the banking.

Le vendredi, lors des essais libres, la Toyota de Ralf Schumacher had exploded a tire when fully loaded in the banking area. Surprised by this accident and unable to find the explanation for the problem, the French manufacturer's engineers advised the cars equipped with Michelin (i.e. 14 competitors, including Fernando Alonso) not to race.

Faced with the inflexibility of the Bridgestone partner teams and the FIA, the idea of ​​adding a chicane at this point of the circuit was rejected; without any other solution, the 14 cars returned to the pits at the end of the formation lap, leaving 6 drivers in the race.

You simply have to go back to 2017 to find traces of the second GP not raced by Fernando Alonso. In Sochi (Russia), his McLaren died at the end of the formation lap, after damage to the ERS of the Honda engine unit. “It’s hard, it’s frustrating, it’s the same thing every weekend. My race was over before it started”, he cursed.

So, can we celebrate Fernando Alonso's 300th GP on Sunday? The answer is negative. On the other hand, it has been proven that the Toyota driver 24 Hours of Le Mans (Sarthe) has participated in 300 F1 weekends.

This little arrangement with reality recalls another commemoration of Fernando Alonso. During the Indian Grand Prix in 2013, the one who was then engaged with Ferrari proudly inscribed on his helmet the number 1, the number of points scored at the time, the record in F371.

Fernando Alonso 2013 India GP helmet. #OTD pic.twitter.com/Bd84i4r5gz

- Jens Munser Designs (@JMD_helmets) 27th October, 2016

However, the point systems have frequently varied since the creation of the championship in 1950, with especially a sharp increase in accounting rewards since 2010 (25 points for the winner compared to 10 previously), which has greatly helped the ex-driver Renault.