Alonso ‘sad’ to finish Alpine journey with Abu Dhabi DNF.
Fernando Alonso says that finishing his Alpine Formula 1 career with a non-finish is a “sad” way for it to come to an end.
09:28 Mon, 21 Nov 2022.
by Fergal Walsh
Motorsport Week

Alonso was in the fight for points at Sunday’s race in Abu Dhabi, before he was forced to return to the pits after Alpine uncovered a problem. It marked yet another reliability issue that Alonso has had this year, with engine issues plaguing his 2022 campaign.

“Disappointed, for sure,” Alonso reflected after the race. “Millions of people are disappointed now, fans… it’s the way it is. It’s been a very unlucky season in terms of… well, not unlucky, we are not prepared reliability-wise. I think it’s the sixth or seventh DNF.”

“A couple of races they don’t count it as a DNF. In Australia we had trouble in qualifying, Austria the car didn’t start in the Sprint Race and some other races we were not ready to compete. I’m a little bit sad to finish like that, but it’s the way it is.”

‘Alonso sad’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...abu-dhabi-dnf/


Ocon: Alonso a legend forever – but barbs ‘not so nice’
Nov 16 2022
By Scott Mitchell-Malm and Valentin Khorounzhiy

Alpine’s intra-team Brazilian Grand Prix controversy became a secondary consideration following its great performance on Sunday – but Esteban Ocon’s post-race comments suggest his displeasure with Fernando Alonso’s public comments has lingered.

The Brazilian GP Saturday sprint was a disaster for Ocon and the Aston Martin-bound Alonso, with team boss Otmar Szafnauer admonishing both in the aftermath for “having let the team down”.

Szafnauer believed Ocon could’ve given Alonso “a bit more room” as they entered Turn 4 side by side – Alonso tagged Ocon’s sidepod, which caused race-ruining damage – and indicated Alonso was at fault for subsequently running into the back of Ocon and damaging his own front wing on the main straight.

‘Legend forever – but barbs ‘not so nice’ ’;

https://the-race.com/formula-1/ocon-...s-not-so-nice/


'Happy to end Alpine chapter', declares frustrated Alonso
20/11/2022 at 17:47
Andrew Lewin

Fernando Alonso signed off his tenure with Alpine F1 with yet another DNF, which the driver himself said pretty summed up his 2022 season. "Six DNFs," he continued. "There are facts that this year they’ve been against us a bit in car 14, but also [others which] didn’t count as a DNF like Australia in qualifying. The sprint race in Austria, I didn’t even start the race. Things like that.”

"I think there are nine or ten reliability [issues] which at this level is already not acceptable and they all happened to my car," he continued. “It’s been a very unlucky season in terms of ... Not unlucky, I think we were not prepared reliability-wise. So I’m happy to happy to finish this chapter and start tomorrow the seat fit with Aston Martin, Tuesday the tyre test and hopefully a new project with more luck.”

‘Frustrated Alonso’;

https://f1i.com/news/461409-happy-to...ed-alonso.html


Fernando Alonso: ‘Unacceptable’ Alpine reliability issues ‘all happened to my car’
Sunday 20th November 2022 6:00 PM
Jon Wilde

Fernando Alonso bemoaned yet another reliability problem as his time with Alpine drew to a disappointing close in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Spaniard’s second year back with the Enstone-based team took a major downturn in the final third of the campaign, partly due to issues with his car and also the internal dynamic since he announced at the start of the summer break he would be joining Aston Martin for 2023.

The first retiree from the season’s finale at Yas Marina, Alonso coasted into the pits under instruction from the team on lap 28 for his fourth retirement in the last seven races. But as the 41-year-old pointed out afterwards, the difficulties date back much longer, all the way back to Saudi Arabia in March, and he has ended 2022 ninth in the Drivers’ standings with 81 points, the same total as last year – and a much lower tally than would have reflected his competitiveness.

“Unfortunately, another engine problem,” Alonso told media including PlanetF1. “It has been a little bit the summary of the year. Unfortunately, in Car 14 always these things happen, so one more.

‘Always Car 14’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...ability-issue/


Alonso switches focus to Aston Martin adventure after "unacceptable" end with Alpine
Sunday 20 November 2022 17:18 - Updated: 17:19
Ian Parkes & Ewan Gale

“There were nine or 10 reliability issues which at this level is obviously not acceptable and they all happened to my car. So, I am happy to finish and start on Monday the seat fit with Aston, the tyre test on Tuesday, and hopefully, a new project with more luck.”

Alonso was held up behind Sebastian Vettel in the opening exchanges and did not commit to overtaking manoeuvres when behind the German, who was making his final F1 start. "I didn’t want to attack Seb," revealed Alonso. "I just wanted to do a few laps behind him and enjoy it."

‘Alonso switches focus to Aston Martin adventure’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/96...ne-retirement/


'Disappointed' Alonso looking forward to Aston Martin challenge
Issued on: 20/11/2022 - 19:28
France 24.

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso said he was "disappointed" for himself and Alpine’s fans after being forced into a mechanical retirement in Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Alonso is set to test for Aston Martin in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

“That’s the best thing today,” he added. “Tomorrow, starting with this project, with a seat fit, meeting a few people, then on Tuesday testing the car, will be hopefully a good chapter. All the bad luck of this year, hopefully, compensates next year!”

‘Aston Martin challenge’;

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...rtin-challenge


Alonso has first Aston Martin run in unbranded AMR22
22/11/2022, 05:47
by Phillip Horton
Motorsport Week

Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso has had his first outing with Aston Martin in Abu Dhabi. Formula 1 has stayed on at the Yas Marina Circuit for one day of post-season testing.

Each team is fielding two cars, with one car for regular racers as part of a Pirelli tyre test, and one for rookie drivers. Alonso appeared shortly after 09:00 local time for his first run with Aston Martin.
Alpine approved plans for Alonso to sample the AMR22 but the Spaniard appeared in an unbranded car.

Alpine is running its new recruit Pierre Gasly in the test, with his replacement Nyck de Vries testing the AlphaTauri AT03.

‘Alonso has first Aston Martin run’;

https://www.motorsportweek.com/2022/...branded-amr22/


Tuesday run for Aston Martin vital due to short 2023 pre-season test – Alonso
RaceFans Round-up
Posted on
22nd November 2022, 0:0121st November 2022, 23:49 | Written by Keith Collantine

Tuesday test “gold” – Alonso. Alonso will make his debut as an Aston Martin driver in today’s test at the Yas Marina in Abu Dhabi. With only three days of pre-season testing per team allowed next year, he says it is a vital opportunity to adjust to his new surroundings.

“I think it’s going to be important, but it’s going to be more in terms of comfort. What the steering wheel, grip, buttons, pedals, these kind of things. “Next year we have only one day and a half in Bahrain and then you start a championship. So today, on Tuesday, it’s gold for these kind of things.

‘Tuesday test gold’;

https://www.racefans.net/2022/11/22/...nd-up-22-11-5/