Fernando Alonso news: Spaniard denies he is happier now than in 2007 in F1

Despite Alonso relishing the new challenge, he disputes the notion that he returned to the grid in 2021 a happier and more relaxed driver.

Fernando Alonso in a file photo. (Image: Twitter)
By Nilavro Ghosh | Jan 6, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Fernando Alonso denies that he is happier in Formula One today than he was in the past, claiming that such an assumption dates back to his difficult season at McLaren with Lewis Hamilton in 2007. After a two-year hiatus from Formula One, Alonso returned last year with Alpine after competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Indianapolis 500, and the Dakar Rally-raid. Alonso spent the first half of his comeback season with Alpine last year, re-adjusting to life in Formula One.

Despite the fact that the 40-year-old relished the new challenge, he disputes the notion that he returned to the grid in 2021 a happier and more relaxed driver than before.

“I probably disagree with that, because when I joined Ferrari [in 2010], I had exactly the same questions from you guys,” Alonso said at the end of last season. “I remember perfectly, answering questions: ‘Why do you feel so happy now? Is it being in an Italian team and you are Spanish, it’s a better fit and you feel happy?’ And I said yes, maybe it’s because of that, we have the same sense of humour, we have the same Latin character, so maybe that’s the reason why I’m happy.”

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“Then I came back to McLaren in 2015, and it was the same comments: ‘Why are you so happy now? Because in Ferrari, you felt a little bit down the last two years and frustrated, and now you seem that even if you are not fighting for the championship and it was the bad seasons of Honda etc, you’re still quite happy off-track, so why that change from Fernando?’ And then when I was in endurance [racing] or Dakar or Indy: ‘Why are you so much more relaxed now? In Formula 1, you seemed frustrated, etc…’ And now it’s the same comment.”

‘Wrong message’

The erroneous outside impression of Alonso’s demeanour, according to the Spaniard, stems from his 2007 season with McLaren, when his one-year contract with the Woking-based team was cut short.

“I think from 2007 and fighting with Hamilton in a British team, in a British environment, it was the wrong message that people perceived and people spread about me,” he said.

“That from 2007, everyone is surprised about how good I feel and how happy I am. So I think I didn’t change much. I’m happy today, but I don’t think I was not happy in the last seasons.”