Splitting a world champion and a championship-challenging team in his forties is difficult, but Fernando Alonso has done it. The Alpine pilot has been impressive and competitive most of the season. However, with retirements and crashes, even in qualifying, Alonso wasn’t able to extract Alpine’s full potential. Well, that has changed in Montreal.
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The Spaniard, after impressing the entire weekend, kept up his form and finished qualifying on a high. On the last timed lap, Alonso crossed the finish line and did it second fastest behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. He beat his former team Ferrari and fellow Spaniard Carlos Sainz to get P2 and a front-row start for the Canadian GP. This is the first time since the 2012 German Grand Prix that Alonso will start a race on the front grid.
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The Spaniard was the fastest in FP3, while Verstappen dominated all sessions of qualifying. But Alonso got the result when it mattered most and became the oldest driver to get a P2 since Michael Schumacher in 2012. The Alpine man is still showing incredible pace despite his advanced years. With this, he is shutting down all retirement rumors.
DIVE DEEPER
With the front-row start, Alonso might be a thorn in Verstappen’s side all race, making things much more exciting. Whilst attacking, we can also expect Alonso to defend his position against Sainz’s Ferrari F1-75. We can hope to explore exciting new battles for the first time in the 2022 season with an unfamiliar front grid for the race.
Twitter stands up and applauds Fernando Alonso and his outstanding qualifying result
The Spaniard is a popular man in Montreal as the crowd cheered him on after his qualifying result. However, it’s not just the attendees at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve appreciating Alonso’s qualifying result. Twitter users are pouring their hearts out in appreciation for ‘Padre’ as well.
40 YEAR OLD FERNANDO ALONSO…
P2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Matt Gallagher (@MattyWTF1) June 18, 2022
Fernando Alonso takes P2 for Alpine!
PADRE.
— formracers (@formularacers_) June 18, 2022
American F1 viewers will enjoy this stat: The last race in which Fernando Alonso started from the front row was broadcast on @Formula1onSPEED#CanadianGP 
— Sean Kelly (@virtualstatman) June 18, 2022
Some incredible stats showcase the rarity of drivers over 40 excellent in F1. Alonso showing his incredible pace at his age is exactly what makes it so much more exciting. And some famous stars also caught the qualifying and appreciated the El Nano.
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A two-decade-long career and he’s on the front row once again. The story keeps writing itself as Alonso’s El Plan continues on Sunday in Montreal!
