Fernando Alonso’s stint as a Ferrari driver (spanning 2010 to 2014) was marked by flashes of brilliance, drama, and a fierce quest to wrest titles against the odds. It was never meant to be, but he produced some of the most unforgettable Grand Prix performances in his career for the Cavallino Rampante.
A dream start: Bahrain 2010
It all began spectacularly. In his very first race for Ferrari, Alonso won the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel led for much of the race, however, his Red Bull suffered a power issue and lost time, leaving Alonso to take the checkered flag ahead of teammate Felipe Massa. It was a statement: Alonso was there to extract the maximum from his new surroundings and signal that he had come to fight.
Monaco 2010: dominant weekend turned into an amazing comeback
Monaco has always been a special place for Fernando Alonso, and his first Grand Prix there with Ferrari had all the ingredients of a thriller. After crashing during the final practice session, he was forced to start from the back of the grid, on a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.
Given the popularity of casino games in Monaco, it’s quite fitting that the race held on the Principality’s streets often comes down to chance. With that in mind, Ferrari gambled on an early incident so they could pit on the first lap, bolt on the hard tires, and keep them until the checkered flag. Everything unfolded exactly as planned: with this strategy, the Spaniard climbed from 24th to seventh, turning what could have been a disaster into a demonstration of strategy.
Singapore 2010: brilliance under pressure
One of the standout performances of Alonso’s Ferrari era came at the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix. From pole position, the Spanish driver led every lap, set the fastest lap, and held off Sebastian Vettel in a tense finale by just 0.293. That result was a grand slam, and showed why Alonso is a special driver: composure, tenacity, and a driver able to take profit from every situation.
Silverstone 2011: magic in a weak year
In 2011, Ferrari’s performance lagged behind Red Bull and McLaren. But at Silverstone, Alonso delivered one of his typical masterclasses of winning when few expected it. It was Ferrari’s sole triumph of the season, thanks to a great drive of Alonso in the mixed conditions. And talking about mixed conditions…
Malaysian 2012: chaos and control
The 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix showcased Alonso’s ability to thrive amidst chaos. Rain, strategy shifts, and mixed tyre conditions played havoc with the field. However, the Spanish driver navigated them to an unexpected win. The Ferrari F2012 wasn’t competitive, but once again, Alonso had an opportunity and he grabbed it with both hands.
European (Valencia) 2012: from deep in the pack
The 2012 European Grand Prix, celebrated in the Spanish city of Valencia, was perhaps his boldest drive. Despite a poor qualifying session that placed him 11th on the grid, Alonso executed daring overtakes, clever pit stop timing, and seized the lead in the last third of the race, after Sebastian Vettel’s car broke up. It was an iconic home-race, showing that the Spaniard was able to turn around races whenever there was a chance to do it.
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