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Fernando Alonso returns to McLaren: what seemed unlikely just a few months ago is now a reality. Here is an analysis of the Spaniard's opportunistic return to face his most formidable rivals.
Fernando Alonso is often considered the most talented driver of his generation, but his record does not quite live up to this reputation. With around 30 Grand Prix victories and only two world titles, he is surpassed by Sebastian Vettel, who has four titles and a string of recent victories.
The Spaniard's career has been marked by a series of puzzling decisions that have not always paid off. Supported from the outset by Renault and Flavio Briatore, Alonso enjoyed his peak between 2002 and 2006, when he won his two championships. Looking for a new challenge, he signed a multi-year contract with McLaren—reminding us that contracts are often just pieces of paper—and quickly found himself testing the limits of that agreement. In 2007, his status as a two-time champion and his assertive leadership style clashed with the strong personalities at McLaren: team boss Ron Dennis and rookie Lewis Hamilton. The rivalry with Hamilton quickly escalated as they battled for the title, while the tension with Dennis was more subtle. Dennis, a man averse to scandal, attempted to rein in the “Bull of Asturias,” but found himself embroiled in the infamous “Spygate” affair, in which Alonso played a central role in exposing McLaren's espionage while protecting himself. This episode established a pattern that would repeat itself. Alonso then put pressure on Renault during the “crashgate” controversy—a case in which many still doubt his innocence—and then exerted similar psychological pressure on Ferrari's managers and engineers, publicly reprimanding them on several occasions. Each time, however, his tactics failed to produce the desired results.
It is unclear exactly what remains of the relationship between Alonso and Dennis today, but their recent behavior suggests that old animosities have faded. Dennis was perhaps the only person who truly stood up to the Spaniard, who often prefers to walk away rather than fight a losing battle. Alonso's reputation for being tough on his team may have been tempered by five difficult years at Ferrari, which probably taught him that the political landscape of the sport had changed. His attempts in the winter market failed, and his return to McLaren seems more like a fallback after missing opportunities at Red Bull and Mercedes, a decision that has slightly tarnished the double champion's aura. Nevertheless, Formula 1 remains too important for Alonso to walk away from. When his return to Woking was confirmed, he spoke of unfinished business and a lingering sense of unfulfillment. One can only hope that this feeling also carries with it the promise of a long-awaited victory, which has eluded him in recent seasons and which he is desperate to recapture. The next chapter in his story will be added to a record already filled with triumphs and setbacks. Alonso can only hope that the ink that will write the final pages of his saga with McLaren and Ron Dennis will be much more pleasant than the previous one.
