Fernando Alonso's 2022 Formula 1 season at Alpine, his second since returning to the sport, showcased his undiminished driving prowess amidst a challenging landscape of inconsistent machinery and strategic missteps. This was a year where his raw speed and race management were frequently on display, yet the final points tally did not fully reflect his on-track contributions.
Going in
Alpine entered the 2022 season with the A522, a car designed under the new tunnel-floor ground-effect regulations. The team aimed to consolidate its position as a strong midfield contender, building on the previous year's P5 in the Constructors' Championship. Alonso, now in his 40s, was expected to lead the team's development charge, bringing his extensive experience with new technical regulations to bear. The team's ambition was to close the gap to the front-runners, a task made formidable by the dominant pace of Red Bull and Ferrari, and the competitive resurgence of Mercedes, as also seen in Lewis Hamilton — 2022 season.
How it played out
Alonso consistently demonstrated formidable pace, particularly in qualifying. He often out-qualified teammate Esteban Ocon, showcasing his ability to extract maximum performance from the A522 over a single lap. However, race day often presented a different narrative. The Alpine A522, while generally competitive, suffered from a notable lack of reliability. Alonso endured a disproportionate number of technical failures and retirements throughout the season, costing him significant points. This contrasted sharply with Ocon, who, while also experiencing some issues, had a more consistent run to the flag, ultimately finishing ahead of Alonso in the Drivers' Championship despite often being outpaced.
The season was a testament to Alonso's enduring racecraft. Even when starting from compromised positions due to grid penalties or incidents, he frequently carved his way through the field, demonstrating his renowned ability to manage tires and execute overtakes. The team's operational side, however, occasionally compounded the reliability woes with strategic decisions that did not always optimize his race outcomes.