300 up for Fernando - but will he take F1's outright record?
Monday 10 December 2018 16:42, UK
Fernando Alonso has admitted he once thought the prospect of competing in 300 grands prix was "crazy", as the Spaniard celebrates reaching his own triple ton at this weekend's Canadian GP.
When he takes to the track for Friday practice at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Alonso will become just the fourth driver in history to appear in 300 or more F1 race weekends after Rubens Barrichello (326), Jenson Button (309) and Michael Schumacher (308).
McLaren marked the milestone in the Montreal paddock on Thursday by holding a ceremony attended by members of the paddock where Alonso was shown a special film about his career and presented with a book featuring pictures from every grand prix he has featured in so far.
Eight drivers attended and afterwards posed for a picture with the two-time world champion wearing special commemorative '300 Alonso GP' baseball caps.
Alonso, who began his career aged 19 in 2001 with Minardi, said: "A couple of years ago I remember Rubens doing the record 320-something and I thought he was a little bit crazy to be so long in F1 - and now I'm getting quite close.
"It's a special weekend. Hopefully we can put in a good performance."
Meanwhile, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier paid tribute to the Spaniard and recounted how he pinpointed Alonso, then at Ferrari, as his No 1 target when he joined the Woking team in 2014.
"Congratulations. This is an achievement…you're not far off Rubens!" joked Boullier.
"I remember when I joined McLaren [in 2014] I was asked by Ron [Dennis] which driver I wanted and I said Fernando - and he said to me 'that might be a little bit touchy' after the 2007 year!
"But he said 'if you think he's the best, go for him'. And I said 'yes, he's the best' and I went for him.
"I think I visited half of your hotel rooms in that year!"
Alonso has won 32 grands prix and two world championships during his 17-year career, but has so far refused to commit his future to F1 beyond 2018.
The 36-year-old is dovetailing this season with the World Endurance Championship, where next weekend he competes in sportscar's showpiece Le Mans 24 Hours as part of his attempt to win the second leg of motorsport's 'Triple Crown'.
Should Alonso continue his F1 career into 2019 then he would surpass Barrichello as the most experienced driver in F1 history.
