Alonso’s near‑miss championships resurface as Domenicali reflects on Ferrari years

Fernando Alonso has come painfully close to being a five‑time Formula 1 world champion — missing out by just eight total points across three different seasons. In 2007, during his first stint with McLaren, he fell one point short of a third title. With Ferrari, he missed the crown by four points in 2010 and three in 2012.

Stefano Domenicali, now the CEO of Formula 1 and Alonso’s former team principal at Ferrari, revisited those dramatic seasons on the Italian podcast Il Fienile, hosted by former agriculture minister Luca Zaia. Domenicali described both title fights as “emotionally intense” and “tough,” noting that in 2010 Ferrari simply didn’t have the fastest car.

“In 2010 we didn’t have the best car, but Alonso did an extraordinary job with the team,” Domenicali said, emphasizing how the Spaniard kept Ferrari in the hunt despite Red Bull’s clear performance advantage.

Red Bull’s internal feud opened the door

Domenicali also pointed to the internal rivalry between Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at Red Bull as a key factor that allowed Alonso to arrive at the 2010 Abu Dhabi finale with a real chance at the title.

“It was like two roosters in the same henhouse,” he recalled. “They kept tripping each other up. Their car was superior, but because the team didn’t manage the drivers well, we had the opportunity to fight for the championship in the last race.”

Ultimately, Vettel and Red Bull prevailed, leaving Alonso heartbreakingly close to another world title.

A strong bond that endures

Domenicali worked with Alonso for three and a half seasons, from 2010 until April 2014, and the two have maintained a close relationship. In an interview with Diario AS earlier this year, Domenicali said he hopes Alonso renews his contract and stays at least one more season in Formula 1 — a decision that may hinge on the massive upgrade package Aston Martin plans to introduce, designed by Adrian Newey in collaboration with Honda.

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