Alonso made up an incredible 11 places to finish P9 in the 2022 Spanish GP in what was one of the most impressive performances so far this season.
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Going into his home Grand Prix, Alpine racer Fernando Alonso had to start from the back of the grid due to an engine change. There was not much harm in dong that as the Spaniard had disappointed in qualifying on Saturday, failing to get out of Q1 with a starting position of P17 on the grid. Alpine took the opportunity to test a new engine for the two-time F1 world champion and what Alonso delivered on the day was nothing short of world class. The world might fawn over Max Verstappen’s third straight win or Charles Leclerc’s unexpected DNF, but an extraordinary story was unfolding at the back of the pack. Starting plum last, Alonso made up an incredible 11 places to finish P9 in the 2022 Spanish GP in what was one of the most impressive performances so far this season.
Not only did the Spaniard have to contend with a P20 start on the grid, but a slow pit stop also hurt his time. However, that was never going to hurt the champion’s spirit Fernando has in him. He was engaged in an enticing battle for P13 during middle stages of the race with fellow F1 world champion and legend, Sebastian Vettel. After his disappointing performance in Saturday’s qualifying, the Alpine racer had predicted Sunday to be a tough day at the office.
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“There is not much you can do,” Alonso said. “This is Barcelona, not much overtaking, a lot of tyre degradation when you run behind cars. So let’s see. The last couple of races, people started at the back, they got very lucky and they scored points. I’m one of those. So if I have one of those mega fantastic Safety Cars in the right moment, maybe I get lucky and I take a couple of points, but I doubt it. I think it’s going to be difficult race,” he added.
Max Verstappen won the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix in a race that saw pole-sitter Charles Leclerc retire from a commanding lead. Sergio Perez finished second for Red Bull, securing the team’s second one-two finish of the season, while George Russell finished third for Mercedes after a thrilling battle with eventual winner Verstappen. Huge gusts entering Turn 4 prompted both Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen to drive off track and slip down the order early in the race, despite the scorching temperatures. By Lap 22, Leclerc had a good lead and a free pit stop, and it appeared that Ferrari would win easily – until Leclerc’s engine failed on Lap 27.
Russell and Verstappen (whose DRS was faulty) had previously sparred for P2 – going wheel-to-wheel on several breath-taking times. They were now fighting for the lead. So on Lap 29, Verstappen pitted a second time, this time switching from mediums to softs, and by Lap 37, he had come up to Russell’s tail. Sergio Perez had temporarily taken the lead, but had to pit for a new set of mediums soon after.
Verstappen was pitted for softs on Lap 45, covering Perez’s alternate strategy and tyre life advantage, and a new pair of mediums now gives him a good opportunity to wrest the lead from Perez. Verstappen was permitted to pass and won by 13 seconds; Perez claimed P2 and the fastest lap after stopping for soft tyres late in the race.
