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Fernando Alonso once hit out at Johnny Herbert after the latter suggested that the former should retire from Formula 1 back in 2016. Replying to Herbert's suggestion, Alonso took a dig at him, quipping that he wasn't interested in becoming a commentator like the British former driver.
The incident occurred during the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix. Following a crash in the Australian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso sustained a damaged lung and broken ribs. The FIA deemed him unfit to race in Bahrain, preventing his participation in the weekend's event.
During the FP3 session of that race, Herbert was discussing the incident in Sky Sports F1's coverage, and this was when Alonso approached Herbert to speak his mind. Alonso, visibly upset by Herbert's earlier suggestion in FP2 that he should consider retirement, approached Herbert to express his displeasure.
"I will not retire, mate. I was world champion," Alonso told Herbert. "You ended up as a commentator because you were not a world champion, mate."
Replying to this, Herbert, who is a three-time Grand Prix winner, said,
"I know, thank you very much, that's good, okay. I wasn't world champion... Happy man."
During the 2016 season, Alonso was racing with McLaren and it statistically was one of the worst seasons of his Formula 1 career. This followed the previous year, 2015, when Alonso infamously referred to Honda's engine as a "GP2 engine."
While the 2015 season was the very worst, 2016 was no good. The Spanish driver struggled throughout the year as he failed to grab a victory, a pole position, or a podium. His point haul that season was 54, 33 more than his then-teammate Jenson Button.
"Can Aston Martin give him what he wants?" - Johnny Herbert on Fernando Alonso's championship-winning potential
Eight and a half years after Fernando Alonso's championship dig at Johnny Herbert, the latter shared a positive response when asked if the two-time world champion can take his title count to three.
The former F1 driver, when asked about Alonso's championship-winning potential, said that he can win the championship with the right car.
Here's what Herbert said back in August:
"He already has the talent to win the World Championship, but can Aston Martin give him what he wants? A year ago, they started the season with podium finishes, very strong. Fernando was always very happy, but now everything has become a bit more difficult. He usually gets eighth, but that's not what he wants."
"He only works for one thing and that is to win races. But if they give Fernando that car, he will definitely get the job done [win the world championship]," he added.
Although Alonso possesses the skills and experience to be a world champion, his current car falls short. Despite a promising start to the 2023 F1 season, the British team's performance deteriorated significantly by mid-season. With only six races remaining in the 2024 season, the 43-year-old's chances of securing a third world title appear slim.
However, the signing of Adrian Newey, collaboration with Honda, and the new state-of-the-art facility at Silverstone might change the Spanish driver's fortune in 2025.
