Fernando Alonso was “giddy” when the United Autosports team briefly thought victory was possible during last month’s Daytona 24 Hours.
Alonso, who hasn’t won a race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, shared a United Autosports-run car with Lando Norris and Phil Hanson at Daytona. Team boss Zak Brown described how a rain shower during the race briefly gave Alonso hope they might win.
“He got really excited in the wet right before we started having our issues,” Brown told F1 Fanatic and other media at an event last week. “Lando was putting in great times and it was clear we were very competitive and we had this moment where ‘I think we might win this thing’.”
Tyre and brake problems left Alonso’s car 90 laps behind at the finish. United Autosports’ other entry, driven by Bruno Senna, Paul di Resta, Will Owen and Hugo de Sadeleer, finished four laps down in fourth place.
Alonso announced his desire to compete in the race shortly after he re-signed for McLaren last year.
“He said ‘I want to do Daytona’,” Brown revealed. “I went to Luis [Garcia Abad, Alonso’s manager] and said ‘does he really want to do Daytona?’ and he said ‘yeah’.”
“[I thought] what else was he going to do in January? And he loved it, he was in the pits every single session whether he was in the car or not, all the team dinners. He was great, totally settled into the team, was great with team mates.”
“We even had in the middle of the night – he didn’t see that we all were watching him – but he started taking stickers off Lando’s tyres in the middle of the night to see if he could help scrub them in a little bit quicker. So there’s Fernando, and we’re all sitting there [saying] ‘what’s he doing?’ He’s that focused.”
Alonso will take part in all of this year’s World Endurance Championship races for Toyota alongside his F1 commitments. Brown is certain Alonso’s extra duties won’t negatively affect his racing.
“I’m knackered going with him to all the races and I’m not even driving, but he knows what he’s getting into. He’s unbelievably prepared.”
“He went from the 24 hours of Daytona and did a simulator test with Toyota for however long he was in the car. He’s back in action, so I think he’s a very special athlete who can do things that probably most of us around this table would get knackered. But I don’t think he would do it if he didn’t think he could do it at the highest level.”
2018 F1 season
- McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
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- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
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Joao (@johnmilk)
12th February 2018, 11:51
Propaganda
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
12th February 2018, 13:25
@johnmilk What makes you say that?
Joao (@johnmilk)
12th February 2018, 13:46
@keithcollantine not aimed at you, hope it didn’t rubbed of that way
Just the usual behaviour shown by McLaren these days and the amazing PR machine around Alonso.
It makes me wonder how long they will keep this going, and when we look back to this sometime in the future will it be worth it for McLaren? For Alonso it certainly is.
I guess, maybe, I have to get used to this new McLaren era
faulty (@faulty)
12th February 2018, 18:11
I had similar thoughts when I was watching Grand Prix Driver.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
BigJoe
13th February 2018, 12:01
You sound like you’re being left behind the times. Bernie?
Joao (@johnmilk)
13th February 2018, 16:01
If image over substance is a sign of progress than yes, you can call me Bernie, you can even tag me if you like
Zad (@)
12th February 2018, 12:24
Looks like a really hungry guy.
Hugh (@hugh11)
12th February 2018, 12:24
Lando in the wet was insane… Seen a youtube video of him on dry tyres on his inlap when it started raining, ridiculously good. Wish I could see his whole stint, the laptimes were incredible.
Pinak Ghosh (@pinakghosh)
12th February 2018, 12:24
Let’s hope Alonso gets to complete the races. Endurance races are long and anything can happen!! Some of the drivers are not impressed by the latest decision of WEC to facilitate his accommodation.
Stephen Crowsen (@drycrust)
12th February 2018, 14:37
Yes, it isn’t surprising that WEC changing the date of the event will upset some people, but then it may suit others more. Every thing that was supposed to happen before, during, and after the event will need to be checked to make sure it is aware of the changed date. We don’t want someone turning up at the race track expecting to find a race only to find it shut. My guess is most of the contracts that had been signed will require some amendment. Some contractors won’t be able to accomodate the change in date. Also, some contractors will have turned down potential work because of commitments elsewhere, and would have submitted tenders if the new date had been the one originally set, so for them there’s no guarantee they will now pick up work. Some computer software will need to be changed. Hotel and airline bookings will need to be changed. Use of phone company and satellite services for internet and broadcasting will all need to be rescheduled.
Hopefully everyone who should be told will be told of the date change, but there’s no guarantee of this.
Nevertheless, Alonso will be a star attraction, so again hopefully the extra revenue will offset the inconvenience of everyone having to accomodate the change in dates.
MaddMe (@)
12th February 2018, 21:11
@drycrust I don’t see too much issue with any of the surrounding bit s and pieces for the event, especially considering the fact that tickets aren’t even on sale yet.
Egonovi
12th February 2018, 15:34
I’ve seen FIA /FOM change dates for less relevant reasons (IMO).
NoName (@noname)
13th February 2018, 10:42
Alonso is overdoing himself. Calm down and focus on F1 rather than lesser race series, i don’t rate Alonso that high anyway and i think Van doorne will beat him this year.
TEDBELL
14th February 2018, 0:15
Wow NoName
Alonso is one of the greatest drivers to who by all rights could have been a five time F1 champion if a few things had changed slightly. He has been a good steward of his craft and is a world class athlete. A true racer at heart and his decision to take the challenge of other high level categories shows a rare side of passion for speed. History books will reflect his contribution to motorsports but with a footnote of changing teams to soon, hence just two championships. Ive grown to value the things he says about racing and enjoy his personna. One of the best.