@@Firebolt1729 you’re toxic AF. Stop projecting your BS. I hope to catch fans like you at next years Melbourne GP. You’ll end up in the Albert Park lake
@@lesblase3667 Alonso fans threatening people when things don't happen the way they want, (like wanting the comments section to be full of Alonso simping) like Alonso himself! Well done!
True fans love him for his talent. Media loved him for his controversy. Most guys on the current F1 grid or any year's grid for that matter, and even a few WDCs, can & will become forgotten over the years and decades. But there are a few guys who'll never be forgotten because of the impact they had on the sport. And one of them is Fernando Alonso ❤️💯
@@TheNecromancer6666 Keep living in your fantasy world! Reality exists. Alonso fanboys must suffer from psychosis and delusion. He got schooled in 2007 in equal cars, watch Fuji that year. He was very lucky that he had equal points to Hamilton.
@@TheNecromancer6666 i'm with you, bro. jenson button said fernando is a more complete driver. he's been teammates to both hamilton and alonso. i think he's more qualified to comment than anyone
Fernando being honest,serious,who doesn't make himself the best,who has huge respect for the other drivers,speaks gently about Kimi,Michael,Lewis.Always trying to improve to be the best at everything,big ambition,a model for everyone in life
As a Kimi Raikkonen fan, I have a lot of respect for Fernando.. he’s a complete person and a really interesting guy. His challenges with Ferrari were spectacular and he earned my respect
As a Kimi fan I was never a fan of Alonso before, but now with his return to Alpine he seems like a different person and I really hope he can challenge Hamilton and Max in 2022.
From a die hard Michael Schumacher fan who I supported 100% in his battle against Fernando, I then became a die hard Fernando Alonso fan from 2010 onwards. Hearing Nando talking about these battles gave me chills and even a little tear dropped from eyes, remembering the 7 year old me waking up at 4am with my older brother to watch them going at it. Thank you so much TC for this.
When Fernando retired in 2018, with Hamilton dominating, I stopped following F1. This season, with him returning, and more competitiveness it's perfect.
@@EliteSkid123 that's what happens when you don't watch the season re: 2019. Alonso got an inherited podium at Q. Yay, it's the second coming of a driver who hasn't done anything in almost a decade. Vettel's finished second twice so far in a much lesser car, you hear practically nothing. Alonso's the most overhyped driver I've seen in 45 years watching this sport. Great driver? Sure. But it's always the woulda/coulda/shouldas who are the greatest drivers (Kubica's another) in many fans' opinion as opposed to those who actually did what they needed to to win, i.e. not alienating almost ever team and/or supplier they've driven for, which is every bit as much of the sport as base driving talent.
@@F1jones I have to agree with you on most of the things you said. Alonso is no doubt a very talented driver. However his attitude, ego, and public criticism of his team, teammates etc.. alienated him from opportunities. He seems to have a better attitude this time around. You see glimpses of the old Alonso from time to time, but I definitely don’t mind him now.
0:07 how every world chsmpionship should be celebrated by a driver. I mean, with Alonso you can feel the passion, the feelings of the driver, which gives me goosebumps
Hearing the amount of respect Fernando still has for Michael Schumacher is just amazing Hearing Michael’s voice brings back childhood memories Keep fighting Michael
When I was young my dad watched quite a bit of F1. As a kid who was between 6 to 10 years old I didn't understand/care for F1, but to me if you say F1 I can name 2 drivers. Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso. Now I started watching again late 2016 early 2017 and I'm so happy a legend like Fernando is still in the sport, Fernando is F1 for me.
@@nixxxon18 Completely agreed. Alonso's racing spirit to me is the most pure I've seen in motorsport over on that side of the world. We want more of that in the US.
@@FNAroundProductions yep, Alonso is a racing monster that had very bad luck in his career after Renault. Never again was at the right place at the right time. That's why greatness in F1 isn't really measured just by number of WDC. Nobody rates Vettel higher than Senna, as an example. Other examples, Stirling Moss was never WDC and he is rated higher than many 1x WDC.
My favourite memory of fernando alonso: Vettel can wag his finger, hamilton can wave his flag, schumacher can jump on the podium, but no celebration will ever come close to the emotion that fernando alonso evoked with that scream on top of the right front tire of his R25 in parc ferme at Interlagos 2005. *THAT IS PURE GOOSEBUMPS* Want to feel like that when I achieve something significant in my life again. 💯❤️
I don't think any 2nd place driver ever deserved a championship more than Fernando in 2012. He carried that B-tier F2012 on his back all year to only within 3 points of the championship. Probably the most incredible performance I've ever seen.
Hamilton always had the better car though. Plus Hamilton winning Silverstone while DNFing max and Bottas taking Max out again just shows how Max deserved the championship more. Abu Dhabi Lewis did deserve to win but for the championsip Max was the better driver.@@GamingQuest4510
Fernando seems like a guy who is genuine. He's someone that even if he were not a F1 driver, I'd want to hang out with. He is clearly highly intelligent, his remarks are clever, and his sense of humor is enjoyable. Such an interesting guy. Would love to meet him one day.
People don't like Alonso for some of the stuff he says but I love how he wears his heart on his sleeve. It's much more entertaining & truthful than the PR-trained drivers that make up the majority of the grid today.
Ain't that the truth, Max and Kimi are the only other straight talkers other than Alonso. Media loves to demonise Max like the did with Alonso too for his attitude 😅
@@crztank9298 Alonso blackmailed his team in order to try & win a championship, hardly a truthful or trustworthy person & must have a bearing on him only winning Two championship’s.
@@thekitowl the only year in which that happened was in 2007, in a team where even Ron Dennis said that they weren’t fighting Raikonnen, but Fernando. Also a lot of people seems to ignore that before the Hungría pit stop, Hamilton went completely against the team, ignoring the fact that in that qualifying it was the turn of alonso to go first in clean air. Even when Alonso pitted they ask the team about why they changed his tires for another used set of tires. I believe it was in Italy that after he won, Ron Dennis had a face like he DNF.
He is the most truthfull and open driver about Schumacher...He admired him a lot it seems...like us actually and it is nice for me:) it is nice because when I was watching 2005-2006 seasons, I wouldnt see that utter respect from Alonso to Michael..he was young and very firefull fighting for the cup then but now you can see his admiration looking missingly to past..
@Stealth Leopard nope in my opinion, mclaren and honda not success, that was one story about mclaren really trust their chassis and blame honda for performance. Its different with redbull/toro rosso approach. Redbull trust honda and collaborate what to be done. And they suceed together with honda. But ofcourse 2014-2016 honda pathetic, we cant blame all to mclaren. Its just part of sad history.
Been waiting for Alonso's podcast since the very first Beyond the Grid episode came out 3 years ago! Thank you for making my day Tom Clarkson and team!
I miss Michael Schumacher everyday. I’d love to hear him talk about F1 nowadays and get his takes and opinions on current and past F1. His Battles with Alonso were legendary. Such a joy to watch these two greats go at it. From memory they never crashed into each other just pure respect for each others talents. We’re so thankful that Alonso is back in F1 and in form. Truly one of the all time greats. Always gave 100 percent and got the maximum out of each car and team he drove for. I hope he can fight for a Championship again soon.
The best interview with Alonso I’ve ever heard. Absolutely fascinating. So little time and too long a career but I would have asked how he felt being perceived as the “villain” after the controversies that plagued him and how those episodes changed his approach to F1 and his relationships in the sport. I was also really pleased to hear he has no intention of retiring anytime soon! Thank you.
If you can find a version with English subtitles, I highly suggest watching the documentary of his last race with Ferrari. He's incredibly candid there.
I remember the thrilling battle he had with Michael, some of the best defending we had seen for quite some time. My dad and I used to watch F1 together and we were so frustrated when they went to adverts on ITV during the middle of it. I was a little sceptical about Fernando coming back into F1 when it was first announced, but I never should have doubted him. Fingers crossed the Alpines improve for next year and can compete for podiums and victories regularly.
He is a living legend. I’m so thankful and honored to live in his era. He definitely deserves much more than what he’s achieved in his career in terms of trophies! I really hope he gets the 3rd title before he retires from f1. 🤞 Grande Fernando ⚔️👑⚔️
In my opinion he’s one of the greatest of all time even though the stats do not say the same. I think in an equal car with anybody on the grid (in any season he’s driven) Alonso either beats them or would barely be beaten even now
But his stats do say it. He up there in race wins and a multi WDC is a massive achievement 👏🏾 and his 2010 performance in that Ferrari was incredible. I think he's one of the GOATS in every knowledgeable race fans book
I followed F1 for more than 30 years now and Fernando is the best of all the drivers I saw competing. Perhaps he wanted to win too much which put him in a difficult situation with his teams when they couldn't give him a winning car, but his motivation and his dedication is beyond imagination. He's always delivering the best performances beyond the wheel.
I don't believe in putting them in any particular order when they races in such different eras, but to me Alonso is up there with Senna, Prost, Schumacher, and Hamilton. I don't know if I'd put anyone else in that group
@@darwinism18 I put him in a different era, too different to the modern era. With Jackie Stewart, Fangio, Moss. But sure, Clark is exception in a similar way to Alonso: his stats aren't as impressive as others, but nobody is confused about his greatness
Alonso is amongst Fangio, Clark, Stewart, Lauda, Prost, Senna, Schumacher. Maybe Verstappen will get in there one day. But Alonso shines on a whole other level as well, like Clark, he’s not only a great F1 driver, he’s a great complete driver.
The one race Fernando Alonso really impressed me, was his stint at the Daytona 24h. In atrocious weather conditions, he took the lead and annihilated the grid. He was FIVE seconds a lap faster than anyone in the field. 5 seconds, 10, 15, 20, 25.... He had a 50 second lead when the SC came out because someone spun. Lead was gone. After a few laps they waved the green flag and there he went: 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds... Destroying the opposition.
I saw that and he was like a master schooling everyone in the field--drivers much more experienced than him. He just found unconventional places to overtake. It was brilliant and hopefully he can do Indy and get a better car.
After Kiki retired, Señor Alonso became my favorite, maybe even during Kimi I admired both. Fernando is a versatile champion, and a true gentleman. How pleasant it would be to sit down and share tapas and sangria with him about life. Best of luck always champ.
Fernando vs Michael, there were several fantastic wheel to wheel duels. 😲😲 Beside Michael Fernando is the best driver after the turn of the millenium. He outclassed his teammates and made the most out of all his non-title cars. Minardi, Ferrari, and holy man he was in upper half of ranking, driving a GP2-engine. 😅 After Kimis retirement, he is the last gladiator of V10 era. His laps with his 2005 car last year in Abu Dhabi were pure pleasure 🤩
He did outclassed some of his teammates not all. Hamilton did beat him with the same car. Hamilton was just a rookie let's not forget that. Fernando is a great driver and he have my respect but Hamilton outclassed him in 2007.
@@jacksonalex6525 Lewis backed by his team..Mclaren and Ron Dennis was strangely hard to Alonso...They did not give that respect to a champion that he certainly deserved..
@@oktayyilmaz5134 I can't believe anyone still uses that argument. McLaren threw that title away specifically because they *refused* to back either driver as no.1. Either of them could have been wdc that year if they had been given priority, and alonso had absolutely no right to expect it to be him.
@@baileyjones4379 Alonso had to threaten ron dennis to leak spygate because the mclaren teams support towards him was non existend. It went so far that the fia had to send marshals to the mclaren pit to see if the mechanics even tried to work on fernandos car. Dont get me wrong lewis definitly is amongst the best in the sport, but im certain that alonso would have demolished him in 2007 if the team really treated both of them equal
I think Fernando really needed a taste of victory when he left F1. He's a competitive animal and being at your peak and not have a chance to fight for wins and titles really hurt him mentally. Just imagine what Michael had felt had Ferrari never given him a winning car or Lewis had his switch to Mercedes never worked. He seems also to have matured, you can feel a lot of positivity and appreciation for the sport and the team he drives for.
He was SO CLOSE to winning the Indy 500, on the LAST LAPS he was running 5th and gaining steadily when his engine suddenly STOPPED. Awful. But he got a standing ovation from the entire crowd.
It's so crazy how time flies. He entered F1, the top level of world motorsport as a teenager, and he's still here one of the best in F1 at 40. He's a living legend.
I didn't realise how many episodes of this there have been... i just checked it out on spotify and this is episode 158!! Didn't realise lewis had done one. I now have so so many of these to get through :D
Dear Tom, thank you for making this interview happen. It’s been a pleasure to hear my idol. I wish I could go to see a live race and possible meet him. All the best for you both!
To this day it bothers me he did not win the championship in 2012. In my opinion it was peak Alonso and I found it very unfair how much better Red Bull car was. Either way, what a great episode, one of the best
Oh man I really hope there's a part 2 to this one day as hearing Alonso's memories, thoughts and opinions on other great drivers, the cars, the sport, the history, and the future is such a joy not just for his fans but also F1 fans in general.
It was not a terrible car, even he himself said it but the media kept running that narrative. No one can fight a championship in a terrible car. If you don't agree ask Lewis in the first half of 2009 or Fernando in his second stint at maca
@@truth4reel Worst car at least in the modern era to compete for a championship though. I don't think anybody in the grid would've done as well as Fernando if they drove his Ferrari
There were only two drivers that didn't put a wheel wrong that year. One lost because of tractor (not F1 car) he was driving, the other because of the reliabilities in the car and by his team. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton
@@AlWwW1 Perhaps your opinion weighs more than the opinion of the one who was driving it. There are these narratives that the F1 media keep pushing like the driver outperforming the car. Technically one cannot do more than the car can do. No driver can outperform that Haas onto pole position. The performance maybe difficult to extract from the car but driver talents and abilities are at different levels. Some drivers can do more with a car than others because of their abilities.
A great, honest interview from what seems to be a genuinely humble man. I thoroughly enjoyed his reminiscing about Schumacher in particular but he obviously has great respect for his fellow drivers. Until now I never really have much more than superficial thought to Fernando (much to my shame) as a Ferrari fan things did not really work out during that period for him or the team. Perhaps that has unfairly influenced me in the past. This interview has made me re-evaluate my stupidity.
In the hands of Alonso, he made that mediocre Ferrari greater than what it was. Watch the documentary of his last race for Ferrari. He was very candid about his frustrations and hopes.
He’s basically got 5 years for sure and then we’ll see. If Alpine decide not to extend at the end of 2025, he can opt for AM, as he has been offered a contract there and Santa Stroll is a fan, so he can go to AM whenever he wants, (kicking out the driver that isn’t Stroll)
@@ignacioquindoslanderas531 This might be the dumbest comment I read for a long time... Why on Earth would Aston Martin after Vettel leaves ever hire Alonso if he is 46 when there is so much young talent out there. I also don't remember Aston offering a contract to Alonso.
I remember when I was 7, my dad woke me up at midnight to watch the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix (we live in Indonesia). I watched the race with a very sleepy feeling, Alonso finished 3rd behind Kimi and Montoya, and that result confirmed his first ever world championship title. That wasn't my first time watching F1 and cheering for Alonso, but It's surely one of my most memorable F1 moment, and the moment when I really became one of his fans until today.
I am an lewis fan, but seeing Fernando drive today or at any point of his career , makes me feel that he does not have any weaknesses. His career moves and attitude held him back. but he is 100% passionate of sport and is one of the most complete drivers even at the age of 40.
@@teslamodel3performance635 2007 - Okay, that was an obvious mistake, but it wasnt his best season. 2010 - There was literally no overtake in that race, because it was absolutely impossible to overtake. Cant blame Alonso on that. 2012 - What are you talking about? He had a perfect season, he couldnt do anything more. He had the 4th fastest car, while Red Bull was the fastest (alongside with Mclaren but it was unreliable), especially in the end of the season. Much much faster than Ferrari.
@@teslamodel3performance635 2007, get damaged by Vettel and spun, 2010, is 0.5 seconds slower thanks to the car, 2012, pushed himself the peak of his power, so yeah, basically a trash driver huh?
The new regs can make you dream of Fernando fighting for wins. With all the bad luck he's had with uncompetitive cars, it would be fitting if Alpine gives him the tools to fight. Also, 2022 being the 10 year anniversary of 2012 with all the different winners, would be great to see 2012 2.0
My mother got me into f1 she is a huge fan of msc , me at the time 10 year old brat couldn't stand or hear about msc and all his wins.Then nando rose more with a competitive car.The way he was changing racing lines was like poetry.
Now that I have been listening a couple years, and the fact the Fernando is a large sample size in his own right; I have to say, Tom, this is a textbook example of long form conversation, excellent questioning, and a dab of enthusiasm! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tom! Another gem!
Fernando Alonso probably the most complete man of his generation, truly the most beautiful sportsman ever. Cool 😎 not captivated in ambition, focusing 🧘♂️on genuine love ❤️ and respect of his sporting prowess, able to recognise his personal integrity strength strategy in sharing the moment high or low. Fernando probably a complete human acceptance and gratitude 🙏 for being gifted positive brave influence through great 👍 talented contenders. Rarely or very few people give back sharing experience even modest guidance through example. Greatness even Greater served with a little humility Fernando Alonso . 🐝🤔🐝😎🐝🍀
I hear Tom Clarkson promoting the language app and that he learned a language and I think: which? Alonso and Vettel have became so down to earth: I think it's part age, part the realisation that success isn't everything. You don't necessarily need to WIN in F1, just to BE in F1 and LIVE it is already a thing on itself. And Alonso makes that very clear. Also, I like his approach on the cultures existing at Ferrari and Minardi as Italian teams (passion, chaos), McLaren (exact and businesslike) and Renault/Alpine (family atmosphere).
As one age's his perception of a person's images changes a lot... I used to hate Fernando during '05, '06 as me being Michael's Fan and used to see Fernando win races more than Michael. But as time progressed, I grew up, got a detailed overview of F1,how things work in F1 etc., felt myself a bit silly coz the way I had thought about him. But seeing him back on grid makes me happy. I hope he still has the old magic to win more races, championships in future.
@@aadhithauzome9658 He is called out for crashgate and spygate, two of the biggest controversies on F1. And lot of people still hate him, or don't acknowledge him for that. Also his controversial days in McLaren, with the team and Lewis, as he points out in the podcast as well.
@@anandvyavahare2031 Well, he came clean from crashgate, it was a manouver from the team principal, not Alonso. Spygate, well, he came also clean for that, not McLaren though, because they were the ones spying on Ferrari, not Alonso.
He has 20 years worth of insight and stories. Shame this was only a 40 minute interview. He’s my favorite driver and now even more so. WEC, LeMans, Daytona, F1…what a driver. Not many of those guys left.
my favourite episode of all. he's humble, he's a fighter, he's a realist, he's talented and he has a heart of a lion. an absolute titan of F1. an all time great.
Truly a legendary Driver who’s mindfulness, for understanding strength for winning an openness awareness , respecting the principles of ambition humbled by the low’s. The definition of greatness could be Fernando Alonso !.
Awesome podcast👍👍 FA has such insight, dedication, and passion for F1. The world needs more athletes like him. Such a classy gentleman, and a tremendous competitor.
They both respect each other a lot now. They both recognise that they were probably each other's toughest opposition to date and among the best drivers ever in F1
@@NavF1 Certainly for Alonso, Rosberg had a competitive Car, Verstappen is on about the same Level, Alonso is just raw talent. If Lewis keeps it up you could see him doing something similar to Alonso when Verstappen continues to get even stronger as a racer.
