2021 has seen a decent-sized churn of drivers by F1’s low season. We have now three rookies stepping as much as the head of motorsport, with Haas and Red Bull casting apart 4 drivers between them. However three into 4 leaves a steadiness of 1. Yet one more area for an up-and-coming driver who can present the world what they’re product of and make a reputation for themselves? Erm, not fairly. As a substitute, we see the return of a driver who turns 40 this 12 months. With unremarkable race after unremarkable race up to now in 2021, we have now to ask… Why is Fernando Alonso again in F1?

I’ll tackle the elephant within the room early right here. I’ve previously written about Kimi Raikkonen’s staying in Formula One as a choice he has the lofty status to make. ‘It’s extra like a pastime for me’ are the immortal phrases from the Iceman on his job. Fernando Alonso enjoys an identical standing within the F1 world, so if he desires to race and somebody will give him a seat, what’s the issue? Effectively, my charitable view of Kimi’s tenure lessens with the variety of former champions sticking round F1 like bathroom paper on the underside of a shoe. And, nicely, with Alonso’s return combining with Sebastian Vettel’s backwards change to Aston Martin, my generosity has run dry.

There was some extent in F1 historical past the place Fernando Alonso was a daily challenger for wins. Within the mid-00s, it was extra frequent to observe a race with Alonso scoring a top-three finish than seeing a Sunday podium with out him. His abilities as a driver are high drawer, and he’s confirmed that he nonetheless has race-winning expertise when given the appropriate equipment. Take a look at his World Endurance Championship title in 2019 and the second consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans win that very same 12 months.

So Fernando is aware of that to be in with an opportunity of silverware, you have to be within the quickest automobile within the sequence. Newsflash, the 2021 Alpine F1 automobile isn’t F1’s quickest machine. A rebrand and restructure from Renault could nicely create a stunning livery, as they’ve proven this 12 months, however it will probably’t magic up competitiveness or further horsepower.

There was part of me questioning if Alonso knew one thing we didn’t. One thing secret in regards to the 2021 Renault that solely he knew when he signed that contract final 12 months. He was so sad trundling about within the midfield in these ultimate 4 McLaren years that he wouldn’t come again for extra of the identical, proper? Unsuitable. Very, very flawed.

So I need to now assume that Fernando Alonso coming again to F1 is a dice-rolling train on the 2022 rules. There isn’t any saying Mercedes would be the unstoppable powerhouse they’ve been for therefore lengthy with subsequent 12 months’s rule change. Maybe Alpine would be the staff to beat as an alternative, with Alonso main the cost. It’s a pleasant dream, nevertheless it’s one which Daniel Ricciardo at McLaren, Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel at Aston Martin, and Max Verstappen at Red Bull all have as nicely. Most of these drivers, and doubtlessly all of them, shall be disenchanted on the finish of subsequent season. Likelihood is that Alonso shall be one in every of them.

As with Raikkonen, I don’t blame Alonso for desirous to return. If an F1 staff want to pay me thousands and thousands to fly around the globe and drive essentially the most superior vehicles, I wouldn’t hesitate. Racing for the sheer love of the racing is a pure purpose to stay in or return to F1. At this level, although, doing it alongside a number of different drivers whose finest years are behind them is tarnishing their status. Not simply due to their lackluster ultimate race positions, however as a result of they’re impeding the long run.

Nyck de Vries at the moment sits second in Formula E and is the one driver with two race wins this season. He received Formula 2 convincingly in 2019 however couldn’t get a seat in his lifelong goal of F1 with no drives obtainable. Callum Ilott pushed Mick Schumacher to the final race in F2’s 2020 season and now twiddles his thumbs as a Ferrari reserve driver, having to accept some token GT endurance racing. Each males paid their feeder sequence dues solely to not make the step up, due to the overcrowded F1 grid. For us to by no means see them race a Formula One automobile is a crying disgrace with the potential that they’ve proven.

I’d a lot fairly see younger drivers be given an opportunity and never make it like Alex Albon, than have these whose time within the highlight is over simply taking fats paychecks. The lower-midfield must be a battleground for younger drivers to hone their craft with the very best staying and the remaining transferring on and making approach. Alonso vs Vettel vs Raikkonen for P12 is only a unhappy sight to see at this level with their stellar historical past, but it’s what I anticipate to see all season. Fernando Alonso has returned to Formula One, playing on 2022 rule modifications. Possibly he’ll win that gamble, however proper now, F1 is dropping.

Originally published at Fortloc.com