First interview with Fernando Alonso: Renault Driver

Fernando, here you are as a Renault driver again in 2008. Happy?

« Yes. Truly. Everyone knows the value of a team like the ING Renault F1 Team and its remarkable track record in Formula 1. We must not forget that together, we consecutively won the championships in 2005 and 2006, seasons in which I had the chance to participate… It is one of the greatest teams, supported by very significant companies. It’s a team that knows the path to victory. »

Was the wait long? What state have you been in these past few weeks?

To be honest, I took a vacation for the first three weeks of November. I used this time to completely relax and disconnect from the world of Formula 1. However, the decision didn’t take more than a week because both I and the people around me were relatively clear on what we wanted to do.

Why Renault? How many other options did you have?

« Options… To be honest, I had quite a few, we know it’s not easy. I am one of the 22 privileged people who drive an F1 car every year, and I am even more privileged since I can leave a top team to go to another equally prestigious one. It was not an easy decision to make. I want to thank all the teams for the interest they showed in me. As I have already said, I chose Renault considering not only their commitment to F1 but also their magnificent track record. »

Are you aware of all the ink that has been spilled waiting for you to make this decision?

« Not particularly. As I said, I was on vacation for the first three weeks. But once we started exploring our options, we realized that the newspapers and practically all the internet sites were mentioning that we had talked with all the teams. Here, they were talking about a one-year or three-year contract, elsewhere they were saying that I had gone to visit such and such a factory, others were announcing that I was taking a sabbatical year!! That’s when I became aware of all the rumors that were circulating and the funniest part was seeing what was said about my « recruitment » in the press every morning. »

But don’t you find it normal that people are so eager to know about your future and might be worried that you could end up without a seat?

« It never got to the point where I was left without a steering wheel. What is certain is that the decision I had to make was not simple. We are talking about an important decision here, and since I was not going to get into a car before January…, there was no urgency. I understand people’s expectations, knowing that I have always received the support of my fans. I always remember with great emotion the support I received throughout this year from these people. »

What rating would you give your season with McLaren?

« It is not simple to summarize an entire season in a note or a figure. What is certain is that the 2007 season was a good year for me despite what may have appeared from the outside. I don’t like people to forget that with only 20 laps remaining in the last Grand Prix of the Championship, in Brazil, I was in a position to win the World Champion title again. Later, Kimi overtook Massa and with that victory, Kimi scored enough points to grab the crown. »

How do you see next season?

« This is the question we all ask ourselves at this time, and I think no one can answer it with certainty. In principle, we know very well that teams like Ferrari will always be among the favorites. But regarding the teams that have had adaptation issues with Bridgestone tires, we hope that this season they will solve their problems to return to a good level. Perhaps Renault will be among the teams that will make progress. Today the challenge is for Renault to get back to the top of the standings starting in January and February and for us to be closer to the podiums next season.

Do you think you will be fighting for the title again next season?

« We will see what is possible to do… What is certain is that we must not put the cart before the horse. First of all, we must get the R28 on track in January and then start working hard to arrive at the first race with a car as competitive as possible. I took on a similar challenge last winter and I sincerely believe we can succeed again this time. From there, we will need to have a perfect championship and hope that the others don’t go too fast… »

According to the ING Renault F1 Team