F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Fernando Alonso - “Michael Schumacher didn’t come back 100 percent; I couldn’t say if I’d be fast”

Fernando Alonso feared that he would return to F1 below his usual levels, and cited Michael Schumacher as an example.
- Race, Press conference, Fernando Alonso
- Race, Press conference, Fernando Alonso

Schumacher had a three-year hiatus💞 after winning seven titles but couldn’t challenge for an eighth in a spell with Mercedes before retiring.

Alonso is a two-time champion who quit for the 2019 and 2020 seasons before returning with Alpine - he will be in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:F1 2023 driver line-up with Asto♐n Martin where he hopes to return to competing for the title.

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"I returned to the sport withou💝t knowing how competitive I would be,” he told AS. 

“I remember Michael, who maybe didn't come back one hundred percent, and 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Kimi Raikkonen wasn't entirely motivate🦩d in the last two or three year🍒s. 

“I c꧑ouldn't say for sure if I would be fast enough to get back t💧o the highest level, but I'm happy with these two years. 

“This season I♐ have seen myself practically one hundred pe🦄rcent and that gives me confidence, it is a good trend for the future. I will always be grateful to Alpine for this opportunity."

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Alpine F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand…

The 41-year-old is ninth in the168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: F1 standings as he enters the168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix: "I thඣink after 2022, I will be immensely lucky next year.♌ 

“I know there is a lot of talk from Mexico, there are five retirements due to engine problems but there are also four races in which I finished without a ♔battery, or the car did not start at the start, or I lost a wheel in a pit-stop. They are problems almost in the middle of the races.

"I should be a༺head of anyone else in the middle 🎃zone.

“We are s🎉imilar to last year and McLaren has taken a step back, that's wh🔯y we fight for fourth. Although if you don't fight for the title, the final position doesn't matter much.”

Fernando Alonso (ESP), Alpine F1 Team Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand Prix, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
Fernando Alonso (ESP), Alpine F1 Team Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 21, Brazilian Grand…

Alonso expects his new team to outperform Alpine next season: “This year is what it is, nobody at Aston Martin is looking much at the results. It's good to see improvements, but Aston Martin is not here to finish fourth, fifth or sixth in th🐈e constructors' championship, it's here to win the world championship and that's what we'll try to do in 2023 and 2024."

Alonso will test the Aston Martin on November 22: "It is important. Not so much🎃 in terms of performance, becaus⭕e the car will be very different next year for everyone. 

“But as for being comfortable, t🐽he steering wheel, the buttons, the seat, all those things that I can change so that they are tailor-made. It will be good to have a day in the car and I'm looking forward to it."

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