Alonso: 'He even managed to beat drivers like Verstappen and Leclerc'

Fernando Alonso turns 40 years old in 2021 when he returns behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car. That is one year younger than Michael Schumacher was when he made his comeback. However, Alonso thinks that the comparison will end and that he will do a lot better than Schumi did at the time.

Schumacher was never really able to impress at Mercedes from 2010 to 2012. A pole position in Monaco and a podium place in Valencia were the two highlights, while teammate Nico Rosberg was usually the faster of the two.

For many Schumacher fans, this was a disappointment, but Alonso thinks his fans don't have to fear that feeling.

"In contrast to Schumacher, I drove a lesser car in the last years of my F1 career. Now I get the chance to return in a good car and that could surprise the fans."

Preparation is extra important for Alonso

To achieve that, Alonso is training hard and is trying to make as many miles as possible in an F1 car, because "my neck is not strong enough at the moment." 

Alonso says it is therefore important to keep driving constantly.

Also because the teammate he is competing against is not a cookie-cutter. "Esteban [Ocon] is a very strong driver, in the Formula 1 categories he was even able to beat drivers like Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc," said Alonso to L'Equipe.