Dec.8 (GMM) Fernando Alonso says 2024 was his “finest season” within the self-discipline of Method 1 qualifying.
The 2-time champion has contested an unimaginable 21 F1 seasons, however he smiled when instructed by DAZN that Max Verstappen not too long ago complimented his expertise.
“Is Max saying that I additionally would have been champion a very long time in the past in a McLaren or a Ferrari?” the 43-year-old Spaniard mentioned. “Me too, even earlier than him,” he laughed.
Nevertheless, Alonso made clear he was not fully joking.
Having instructed the media on a number of events that the 2024 Aston Martin was among the many slowest vehicles of all this yr, Alonso instructed his workforce on the radio in Abu Dhabi that the inexperienced machine is the truth is “the worst automobile ever”.
“That’s what at all times occurs,” Alonso mentioned, rolling his eyes. “FOM is sort of obsessive about my radio and taking it out of context. These are non-public conversations that you’ve with the workforce and so they then inform the world.
“I at all times say issues which might be optimistic, however they solely wish to painting me as a grumpy man. They’ve been doing it for years.”
Nevertheless, Alonso admits he’s notably happy with what he has been capable of do along with his “worst automobile” on Saturdays this season.
“16 out of 24 occasions in Q3, with the automobile we now have this yr, I believe it reveals that it have to be my finest season as a qualifier,” he mentioned.
“If I used to be voting, I might undoubtedly give myself the award,” Alonso mentioned, smiling once more. “I don’t suppose we’ve had a automobile many, many occasions out of these 16 ok to get into Q3.”