The 40-year-old Spaniard is the oldest driver on the grid in the 2022 F1 season and a two-time world champion with Renault.
With more bad luck in Imola, it's easy to see why he was frustrated when he reflected on his season thus far, having not scored since Bahrain.
Before crashing in Q3 due to a hydraulics issue, Alonso believed he was in genuine contention for a podium finish in Australia last weekend.
On Saturday, Alonso had a reliability issue and crashed out of Q3, claiming afterwards that he had a chance at pole due to his speed.
After a two-year hiatus due to disillusionment with the sport, Alonso returned at the start of last season with Alpine.
The Albert Park track has undergone a number of changes since the last time Formula One cars zoomed on its asphalt.
He finished 9th in Bahrain to earn a couple of points, and he was pushing to finish in the top six in Saudi Arabia before having to retire.
Alpine had made it clear to its drivers that they would be allowed to race each other, just as they had in Bahrain.
The Dutch F1 champion will become the first since Vettel to choose the number one to defend his title.
The 2022 Formula 1 season is not yet underway, yet there are quite a few experienced drivers fighting for their future.