Fernando Alonso — 2018 season

Fernando Alonso's 2018 Formula 1 season, his final before a two-year sabbatical, was characterized by a determined effort to extract performance from a McLaren chassis that often struggled with both pace and reliability, despite an early run of consistent points finishes.

Going in

Following three challenging seasons with Honda power, McLaren entered 2018 with a new engine supplier, Renault, hoping for a significant step forward. The expectation was that the MCL33, paired with a more competitive power unit, would allow Alonso to consistently contend for points, if not podiums. Alonso himself was a two-time World Champion, a veteran known for his ability to maximize any package, and the move to Renault was seen as a potential catalyst for a stronger showing. This period followed years of struggle, a stark contrast to his earlier career, as seen in his 2014 season and the subsequent 2015 season and 2016 season with McLaren-Honda.

How it played out

The season began with promise. Alonso secured a 5th place finish at the Australian Grand Prix, followed by a 7th in Bahrain, 7th in China, and another 7th in Azerbaijan. This early run of points finishes, including an 8th in Spain, demonstrated Alonso's capacity to capitalize on any opportunity, accumulating 32 points in the first five races. However, this initial momentum proved difficult to sustain. The McLaren MCL33, while showing flashes of potential, was not consistently competitive enough to challenge the front-running teams in the V6 turbo-hybrid era. The car's performance plateaued, and reliability became a significant concern. Alonso recorded 6 DNFs throughout the season, including consecutive retirements in Monaco (Gearbox) and Canada (Exhaust), followed by a suspension failure in France. These technical issues, alongside collisions in Belgium and the United States, hampered his ability to convert qualifying positions into race finishes.

Defining moments

Alonso's season was defined by his early points streak and his consistent ability to bring the car home in the top ten when it was mechanically sound. His 5th place in Australia, starting from 10th on the grid, was a standout performance, showcasing his race craft. Later in the season, he managed 7th in Singapore, another strong result on a circuit where driver skill can make a greater difference. Despite the challenges, Alonso finished the season with 50 points, placing him 11th in the Drivers' Championship. While a respectable points tally given the car's limitations, the lack of podiums highlighted the gap to the top teams in a period dominated by and , as detailed in records.