‘Defying logic’… Eddie Jordan simply can’t believe how good ‘fantastic’ F1 driver has been this season

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Eddie Jordan has been sharing how impressed he’s been with Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso this season and his longevity in Formula 1.

Jordan was speaking to David Coulthard on the Formula for Success Podcast with the 2023 campaign about to come to a close.

Even though Max Verstappen has wrapped up a third world championship, almost every other driver on the grid still has something to play for.

Fernando Alonso is looking to hold onto fourth in the driver’s standings after a renaissance in Interlagos following a very up-and-down year.

He scored six podiums in his first eight races but his Aston Martin kept going backwards after that and there were even rumours he might retire after a woeful race in Mexico City.

However, Jordan has praised Alonso for his performances this season and can’t believe he’s still driving this well at 42 years old.

The Spanish two-time world champion has had an unbelievable career in Formula 1 across two decades with multiple teams.

After his spell with Renault, it felt like he always chose the wrong major constructor to join in his search to add to his titles.

He went away from the sport and came back and despite his age is still one of the most formidable drivers on the grid.

Just look at the difficulty Sergio Perez had in getting past him in Sao Paulo in the quickest car on the grid.

Jordan amazed by Alonso this season

Speaking about the 42-year-old, Jordan said: “Fernando [Alonso] came and he won those world championships with Benetton and Flavio [Briatore] and stuff and I think he was bombarded.

“He was the first real Spaniard to come on the scene like that, he was the darling of the grid and I could see that he got just destroyed mentally.

“But not many drivers have the confidence, the belief and the talent to believe they can walk away from a sport and then just automatically assume that there’ll be a spot waiting for them when they come back.

“Anyone that I know apart from some out-and-out greats like Fernando once they leave and they’re gone and they’re one or two years away, they soon get forgotten.

“I mean really, he’s defying logic at his age what is it 42 now and he’s going again. I think some of his performances this year have been fantastic. Mind you, some of his performances have been somewhat lethargic.

“Now whether that’s him, the car or whatever, but I can’t possibly believe it’s him because if anyone gives 100% it’s him and he never gives up.

“And what I like about him is his mental approach to things.”

Alonso continues to defy expectations

As Jordan suggests, it’s hard to believe that any struggles Alonso has had this season have anything to do with him.

He’s always made his feelings clear when he’s in a car he’s not a fan of, but the pace Aston Martin showed in Brazil will encourage him for the final two Grand Prix.

Alonso has waited a decade to record his 33^rd career win and would absolutely love to do it in Las Vegas.

Aston Martin face tough competition from McLaren to be the best of the rest following Lando Norris’s performance at Interlagos.

Ultimately, any driver on the grid is now relying on something to go wrong with Max Verstappen’s car before they can think about nicking a win this season.