Alonso: The Master of Manipulation

Fernando Alonso has reached a monumental milestone in his career with 100 Formula One podiums after the recent Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

In a recent interview with RacingNews365, former Formula One driver Mark Webber who raced against Alonso during his time in the sport, shared his insights about Fernando Alonso.

Early Career Encounters

Webber and Alonso first met in the year 2000 during the Formula 3000 championship, where both drivers impressed and went on to have successful careers in Formula One.

Webber recalls their first encounter at the Formula 3000 race at Spa-Francorchamps, where he knew he was racing against a future world champion.

"I saw him go through Eau Rouge and I thought 'Yeah, okay!' He was very fast and very good in Spa and also very fast in Budapest. He was immediately very competitive. I knew he would be unstoppable later."

Respectful Rivalry

Despite being competitors in Formula One, Webber and Alonso have always had a good relationship. "He was insanely fair with me."

"I think the relationship helped, but we never touched each other, even though we spent, like, 40% of our careers together!"

Webber explains that Alonso's ability to mix pace with intelligence is what makes him special.

"He always tries to be unpredictable, in the good sense of the word. In a fair way."

"Also, he tries to manipulate your racing lines and send the dirty air to your car."

"A Total Animal"

The competitiveness between the two drivers was palpable, as Webber recalls playing a friendly game of basketball with Alonso in Melbourne.

"I remember playing basketball with him once in Melbourne. Like, two-on-two, and he was getting pissed off that he was getting beat and he wanted to change the rules. He loves winning."

This competitiveness and love for winning are what make Alonso such a fierce competitor on the track.

Triple Crown Ambitions

Alonso has always been interested in other racing classes outside of Formula 1. He recently made a bid to win the Triple Crown by winning the Formula 1 race in Monaco, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Indy 500.

Webber respects Alonso's bravery in trying new adventures like IndyCar, despite some big crashes. "He just wants to do anything he can strap himself into behind a wheel, just look at how much karting he still does!"

The Master of Manipulation

Alonso's ability to manipulate his opponents is what sets him apart from other drivers. He is constantly thinking about how he can make it as difficult as possible for his competitors, whether he is attacking or defending.

Webber explains that Alonso is brilliant at this and that he was able to learn a lot from him while racing against each other. "He was magic at mixing it up, keeping the pace really high and wasn't overly predictable."

The Unpredictable Alonso

Alonso's unpredictability is one of his greatest strengths on the track. He always tries to be unpredictable in a fair way, and his intelligence allows him to anticipate his opponents and adapt accordingly.

Webber explains that this is what makes Alonso so special and that he was able to learn a lot from him while racing against each other.

A Champion on and off the Track

In addition to his success on the track, Alonso is also known for his fair play and respect for his competitors.

The bond between Webber and Alonso remained strong throughout their careers, and their mutual respect for each other is evident in the way they raced against each other.

The bond between the two drivers also produced some iconic moments, such as Alonso's well-known "lift" with Webber at 2013