Fernando Alonso returns to the front row ten years later

Fernando Alonso showed this Saturday in Canada that he still has the magic that in 2005 made him the first Spaniard to become Formula 1 world champion. Despite having a car that is not for many parties, the rain and the cold that coincided in Montreal allowed the Asturian to take advantage of his skill in mixed conditions, those that camouflage the weaknesses of the weakest cars, while attenuating the punch of the fastest.

In such a special setting as the Gilles Villeneuve circuit, Alonso was well above his Alpine, to the point of placing second on the starting grid with a view to this Sunday's race (20:00, Dazn).

The man from Oviedo will start again from the front row ten years after the last time.

Since that German Grand Prix in 2012,

Pole

was taken by Max Verstappen, who remained unattainable at all times, while Carlos Sainz will start third.

Charles Leclerc, for his part, will do so penultimate, after Ferrari decided to replace different elements of the power unit of his car, the same one that has left him lying in two of the last three tests.

At a time when his continuity at Alpine cannot be taken for granted –Luca De Meo, CEO of the Renault group, had the opportunity to confirm him in Montmeló and did not–, Alonso emerged with all the strength that pushes him in his endeavor in prolonging his time in F1, and he managed to get around a track embraced by walls and mined with puddles.

The track dried up with the rolling of the cars and at such a delicate juncture the best version of the oldest member of the grid came out.

“At the moment it is an incredible weekend;

we have been competitive since the first free trial.

The car was fantastic and the fans gave me that extra ”, declared Alonso, who in the morning, in the third free practice, had already achieved the best time of all.

“In the third session I finished the first and I thought that the others had not pushed at all.

We know that these are special conditions, but you have to enjoy it”, added the runner.

The weather forecast predicts a change in weather in Montreal, where the sun should shine by the time the traffic lights go out.

This should not leave too much room for the Alpine rider to defend that second position, given the superiority of the prototypes that he will have behind him: “Our real position in the race is between fifth and seventh place;

I think we will fall there."

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