Fisichella: Alonso getting older but quicker

Jad Mallak 23 May, 2023 1 min read

Giancarlo Fisichella, the retired Formula 1 driver, believes his former Renault teammate Fernando Alonso is getting quicker with age, not ruling him out from bagging a third Championship.

Fernando Alonso returned to F1 in 2021, after a two-year sabbatical, and has shown that he has not lost any of his prowess behind the wheel of an F1 car, and while that was seen in flashes during his Alpine days (2021 to 2022) due to the mediocrity of the French racers he was driving, the brilliance of his current ride, the Aston Martin AMR23, has shown beyond any doubt that the Spaniard has got it in him still.

Alonso bagged four podiums in the first five races of the 2023 F1 season, and he did not rule out the chance of winning a race or two believing Aston Martin can capitalize on situations when leaders Red Bull might drop the ball or have the occasional off weekend, while it is worth noting that the British outfit have made a massive jump up the grid, currently the second fastest behind the Bulls.

While Alonso is targeting a couple of wins in 2023, his former Renault teammate in his title-winning 2005 and 2006 seasons, Giancarlo Fisichella, believes the Aston Martin driver has a chance to fight for a third F1 Title.

“I think Fernando, with a good car, can win another championship,” Fisichella told Sky Sports News.

How can he get faster with age?

“Fernando Alonso is getting older but getting quicker – I don’t know how he can do it! Fernando was my team-mate in 2005 and 2006. We won the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships together for Renault. It was fantastic to work with him,” the Italian explained.

“I’m happy for him to be in this shape and scoring these podiums race after race,” the three-time grand prix winner maintained.

Fisichella also commended Aston Martin on the job they have done so far in 2023; he said: “This year they are really, really strong – the car is so good. Especially in race distance it looks like the best car with the degradation of the tyres,” he said.

“Aston Martin is an incredible team. They have grown up very quickly,” the 50-year-old concluded.

While Alonso believes he can win a race in 2023, he identified Monaco, Budapest, and Singapore as the venues where he would most likely be able to achieve that, as they suit the strengths of his AMR23.