OROne of the races that are stored in the viewer’s retina. Under the scorching sun of Valencia, Fernando Alonso could not hold back tears at the top of the podium. on saturday, Ferrari he classified badly and the narrow urban circuit of Valencia did not invite us to think of a heroic comeback. “The podium is impossible”said the Asurian when he was eliminated in Q2.
What happened 24 hours later still deserves to be remembered step by step. Alonso lowered his visor and became a predator ready to hunt his prey. What seemed like just another walk for Vettel and Red Bull ended up turning into a placid afternoon for the Prancing Horse. In a heart-stopping start, Alonso placed his Ferrari in eighth position. The first step was already taken, adding points.
Alonso, at the 2012 European GP.
On lap number 13, he claimed his next victim, the current Haas driver, Nico Hulkenberg. The pace of the Asturian was overwhelming. He beat the time lap after lap, like the one who believes in miracles. And boy was this… With the stops of the four riders in front, Fernando managed to lap 3 until his first stop. With a fresher tire, the exhibition was about to start.
A track full of traffic was going to witness one of the best Formula 1 feats: Schumacher, Di Resta, Senna, Massa, Raikkonen… One after the other they fell into melee with Fernando. The Asturian brought out his best outdoor repertoire to rise to fourth position. Ahead was the final test: Hamilton, Grosjean and Vettel.
The accident between Kovalainen and Vergne caused a new Safety-car. The calm before the storm. Alonso passed Hamilton in the pits and a bad strategy by the British relegated Lewis to sixth place. With the relaunch of Seb, the Asturian reserved the best of his movements for Grosjean. First curve, wheel to wheel and exterior of vertigo… He had raised the public again.
Alonso crossing the finish line.
The history of this race deserved no other ending than victory. The Renault engine of Vettel’s Red Bull said enough and Fernando crossed the finish line as the leader of the racetheir cries of emotion were those of an entire country. Alonso became the first driver to repeat victory that season and the outstanding leader of the World Cup was placed with what, a priori, was the fourth car on the grid. The Asturian defined it as “the best race of my life”. The 2012 European Grand Prix is the faithful reflection of the history of Fernando Alonso. The important thing is not the end, but the path.
