The gift of Fernando Alonso, the Stoic Driver

Like a true Stoic philosopher, during the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix (or, to be precise, the São Paulo Grand Prix), Fernando Alonso focused only on what depended on him — on what he could control — and let go of everything else.

This was true from Friday’s qualifying session through the Sprint Shootout and Sprint race, and right into Sunday’s Grand Prix. Fernando ignored the weather, Esteban Ocon’s insults, and the pace of his pursuers to concentrate on what was in his hands: his AMR23. And even when the car didn’t respond the way he wanted — as happened at both race starts on Sunday — he didn’t lose his composure. Instead, he clawed back positions and exploited every inch of the track to hold onto a third place that, apart from the penultimate lap, was entirely his.

The truth is, Fernando has spoiled us with his faith in the impossible. With Numantine defenses no other driver has managed to replicate: Imola 2005, Hungary 2021, and now, Brazil 2023. Perhaps this last one — at the risk of falling into the proximity bias trap — is the purest expression of what Fernando Alonso represents as a driver, and what Alonsismomeans: never giving up, and never stopping the pursuit of your dreams.

At Interlagos, Fernando delivered not only a masterclass in defensive driving and race strategy but also displayed his timeless ability to strike decisively whenever an opportunity arises. But let’s be honest: few of us believed he would actually pull it off after Checo overtook him on the penultimate lap. Just listen to the tone of the Spanish DAZN commentators — Antonio Lobato, Toni Cuquerella, and Pedro de la Rosa — they all seemed to concede the podium after Pérez’s move.
Fernando, however, did not.

And this is where I’d like to pause — on the life lesson he gave us during that Grand Prix: regardless of what people expect from you, or what they tell you, only you know your limits. And only you can surpass them. Almost all of us had written him off. But Fernando believed in himself. He didn’t throw in the towel. He didn’t lower his arms.

As María de Villota (R.I.P.) once said: