“The lack of victories hurts the career, the motivation and happiness. That’s been the biggest loss of the last couple of years,” confesses Fernando Alonso regarding his three years of frustration over at McLaren-Honda.
The Spaniard does not believe the move has damaged his reputation but admits that is has harmed his career.
Alonso left Ferrari in 2014 in the hopes that the McLaren-Honda alliance would come out as the genuine challengers of Mercedes.
It has not so far turned out the way he expected as McLaren has endured three seasons without a podium finish while Ferrari has a strong chance this season against Mercedes.
However, while some of Alonso’s career moves maybe questionable, his reputation has been by and large positive both in the race circuit as well as with the public.
Time and again, the Spanish speedster has use his skill to cover for mechanical failures and won throngs of new fans in North America following an impressive debut at the Indy 500.
It is nonetheless undeniable that Alonso won his last title over a decade ago and his previous F1 win happened four years back.
The Spaniard added, “From 2013 I didn’t have victories, so it’s not only the last three years. That’s been the frustrating thing,”
He looks at other drivers and note their talent, but in the same breath point out that Mercedes’ domination puts drivers of other outfits in the same situation as him.
“But at the same time l look at other drivers, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, even Max Verstappen, who are super talented guys, and they have two or three podiums in the last couple of years.
“It is a very strong domination from Mercedes, and this year from Ferrari and Mercedes, so all the other drivers are in the same situation.”
