Fernando Alonso
We don’t usually like to give the Top Dog to the race winner, preferring instead to honour performances rather than places. That said, in this instance we simply have to give Badger’s coveted gong to Fernando Alonso. To start eleventh and finish first, particularly on a track like Valencia, is an astonishing achievement.
In a simply barmy race (when has Valencia ever been that exciting?), he managed to emerge atop the podium.
Yes, he’d never have won the race without Sebastian Vettel’s sudden and catastrophic car failure but, when presented with the chance, he seized it with both hands. Once he got ahead he never looked like losing and, in the end, that’s all that matters. It’s looking ominously good for the Spanish double world champion; getting race victories without having the fastest car is a good groove to be in.
Honourable mentions must go to both Vettel and Romain Grosjean, both of whom drove beautifully before car problems forced them out. In a parallel universe we could well have been looking at a Red Bull one-two, such was the pace of their car.
Lewis Hamilton also deserves a mention for a sterling job manhandling a car round the track that simply didn’t want to run that high. We’ll leave the discussion of his ignominious exit to another article but, suffice it to say, it wasn’t ideal. He’d been doing so well as well.
In any event, the Top Dog trophy is yours Fernando. Enjoy it.
Photo Credit: The Cahier Archive
Masompe
June 24, 2012
Just a question – Alonso did not make it to Parc Ferme, does he still keep his win? If YES then why?
Chris
June 24, 2012
no honourable mention for Michael Schumacher or Mark Webber? both of whom done a far better job than Lewis Hamilton!!
oudinot
June 24, 2012
A fantastic drive.
This was the kind of victory that moves a driver into the realms of “greatness”.
Buzzwah
June 26, 2012
It has to be said that was a champions drive