DNF ends F1 season in Abu Dhabi ‘wrap-up of the year’

Alonso’s last appearance high mountain Racing in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix before moving to Aston Martin, but failed to reach the checkered flag due to a water leak.

Although Alpine still finished fourth in the constructors’ championship, Alonso lost more points after retiring for the sixth time this season. He was battling for the points before exiting the race on lap 27, starting in 10th.

“Unfortunately another engine problem, so that’s the end of the year,” Alonso said after the race in Abu Dhabi.

“Unfortunately, in carriage 14, these things happen all the time, so here we go again.”

Alonso has retired several times this season, citing poor reliability and track accidents, such as at Spa lewis hamilton in austin Lance Stroll.

Fernando Alonso, Alpine

Photography: Erik Junius

It means Alonso is ninth in the championship of the year, 11 points behind his team-mate Esteban Oconbut he often pointed to the points he lost this year.

Asked whether he was sad that his time at the Alpine was over or happy that the season was over, Alonso replied: “I’m glad it’s over.

“As you know, there are facts that this year is a little bit bad for us in car number 14. Six DNFs, but also [ones] They don’t count as DNFs, but they are DNFs, just like Australia, with qualifying issues. In the sprint race in Austria, I didn’t even start the race, stuff like that.

“So I think there’s nine or 10 reliability issues, which are clearly unacceptable at this level. They’ve all happened to my car.

“So I’m happy to finish and start installing the Aston seats on Monday, tire testing on Tuesday and hopefully more luck with the new project.”

After two seasons out of the series, Alonso returns to F1 with Alpine in 2021, his third stint with the Enstone-based team. He raced for Renault with the team from 2003-06 and 2008-09 and won the world championship in 2005 and 2006.

“Today’s setback, I can’t do anything about it, but I’m grateful,” Alonso said.

“I will always think of Alpine or Renault, great memories. We won two titles and I spent nine years in Formula 1 with Renault or Alpine.

“I will be forever grateful and wish them the best of luck for next year.”