“How would I rate myself out of 10?” - Returning F1 champ Alonso grades himself

Double F1 World Champion Fernando Alonso says he agrees with the assertion he is among the most ‘complete’ drivers to have ever stepped foot into a Formula 1 car, grading himself ‘9 out of 10’ for versatile abilities. 

The Spaniard will be back on the F1 grid following a two-year hiatus in 2021 after completing a one-year deal to return to the Renault squad - which will be renamed Alpine to reflect its specialist sportscar arm - he won his two world titles with in 2005 and 2006.

With the formal date for his first outing in an F1 car since he left McLaren approaching, the hype surrounding Alonso’s return is inevitably beginning to gather pace.

Speaking at a press conference to promote his new Amazon Prime documentary ‘Fernando’, Alonso - who has competed in the Indianapolis 500 and the Dakar Rally during his F1 pause, as well as notch up Le Mans 24 Hours glory with Toyota - was asked to grade himself out of 10 and explain why.

“I must agree,” the Spaniard replied when asked whether he agreed with the statement that he is one of F1’s most complete drivers.

“I consider myself to be quite complete – maybe I score nine in everything. Maybe there’s a faster driver in wet conditions or on Saturday or on the starting line, one that’s better than me… But I think I’m close to the top in many circumstances and categories, and in the championship that’s a good thing to have. 

“It’s like when you have any top athlete doing good in every single category, in the end you win. Throughout my career, when the engines were V10 or V8, we were there all the time, with Michelin, Pirelli, we were still there in the top positions.

“The wet conditions were always good for me, and now when I’ve gone to other categories, to go to the Dakar Rally and be amongst the top five was a good surprise for me. To jump in a car and… be able to lead in the Indy 500 was a surprise to me.

Alonso’s pursuit to become only the second driver - along with Graham Hill - to clinch the fabled ‘Triple Crown’ of victory in the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 Hours and Indianapolis 500 has captured attention ever since he began his quest in 2017.

 For now, Alonso has achieved two of the three, with Indy 500 on hold while he’s competing with Alpine in F1.

However, he says driving in different disciplines is a true test of a driver’s abilities and skills in and out of the car to maximise a package.

“You discover yourself as a driver who can adapt to any car, circumstance or category, and you start to harness that for your own benefit. 

“You’re aware of your limitations – you try to hide them to not give any openings to your rivals or opponents. But your qualities, you try to emphasise them. And that’s what I intend to do – I try to emphasise them better than others.”