Formula 1: "A Frenchman can become world champion", says Fernando Alonso

In the middle of the week, the double Formula 1 world champion in 2005 and 2006 was in the premises of the Renault Competition factory in Viry-Châtillon (Essonne).

He molded the seat that will soon welcome him again in F1.

After two years of absence, the Spanish driver is preparing his return next year at the wheel of an Alpine, Renault's new name on the circuits.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso is the subject of an Amazon documentary, called "Fernando", in four episodes.

He tells about his 2019 season where he had success at Daytona and Le Mans but also the Indianapolis or Dakar failure.

He tells us about it.

Among other subjects.

Why did you decide to come back to Formula 1?

FERNANDO ALONSO.

I like it too much, I like motorsport too much and I realize that I cannot do without it.

When I left F1 two years ago, my friends said to me: "Now you can do whatever you want".

But what I want is to drive and run and keep running.

And since F1 is the “top category” in our sport, it makes sense to come back to it.

Yet you have won everything, why try to come back?

Seems like the right time to me.

I am 39 years old and Formula 1 is now dominated by a single team

.

It is not very interesting for the public.

I will be back in 2021 to play my role.

But you could stay by your pool without taking any risk ...

For me, this is not the good life.

Driving is my life and you will see it in the documentary.

I drive every day, I drive every week.

I want my life to be like this, for a long time to come.

Do you just want to drive or become world champion again?

There is only one world champion per year but I am an ambitious and competitive athlete.

Everything I do is a mission and I will do whatever I can to win.

Maybe not next year, but as soon as possible.

We will do our best with Renault.

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It is only Lewis Hamilton who wins in F1 or almost.

Isn't that boring?

Yes, I agree.

It is not the best period in Formula 1 that we are experiencing.

When a pilot dominates so much, it's not ideal.

Frenchman Pierre Gasly won at Monza a few weeks ago.

Will he be able to do it again?

Of course, because his victory is no accident.

The previous week, he was already very well placed.

He is a driver who has had an exceptional season.

In my team next year, I will be alongside another French driver, Esteban Ocon.

France has a great generation of good drivers, very promising and who have received very good training.

I am convinced that Esteban can very quickly be a competitor for a regular podium in Grand Prix.

Can a Frenchman become world champion soon?

Yes I think so.

They go fast, they have all the ingredients.

They won in the juniors and they know how to win.

Renault will be very competitive and Esteban like Pierre will have his chance.

Why did you accept that a camera would follow you every day for months?

She has indeed followed me for months, almost every day throughout the last year.

The documentary was due out during the first months of this year 2020 but the pandemic delayed it as it did with so many other things.

What are we going to see?

I think people are going to find out a lot of interesting things, that they are going to see what is going on behind the scenes.

We will see more than what we usually see on TV when we watch a car race.

What will we learn from you?

My day-to-day life in 2019. They will see me at Le Mans, on the Dakar, in Indiana.

Every week, I had a new challenge to take up.

We're going to see what my normal life is like when I'm at home, how I prepare for my races, how I work with my engineers, how we put together the projects we have.

We're going to get into my trade secrets.

We will finally see that I am a normal person outside the circuits.

Forgot this camera?

Yes.

At first it was very weird but after two hours I was done to forget that she was at.

His presence was becoming normal and part of my life.

The technicians made sure that I forgot it to show the reality of things.

Roland-Garros starts soon and you are close to Rafael Nadal…

He is still the favorite. He is the “king” of Roland-Garros ”and in Spain, we are all behind him. When I came to Viry-Châtillon this week, I stayed in a hotel just in front of Roland-Garros. I saw the courts. I obviously wish Rafael the best of luck, such a nice person.