Alonso: Master of the midgrid fightback
Fernando Alonso is no stranger to triumph over adversity and Sunday's race in Valencia produced his greatest fightback yet. Michele Merlino unearths some fascinating Fernando stats and looks at all the other key figures from the European GP
Fernando Alonso consolidated his position as one of Formula 1's great comeback kings with his superb victory from 11th on the grid in Sunday's European Grand Prix. The Valencia street circuit provided a thrilling race culiminating in the Spaniard taking his second win of 2012.
It's the second time that Alonso has raced from outside the top ten to achieve glory, and only the 26th time in 866 Formula 1 world championship events that a driver has managed such a feat (and three of those were Indianapolis oval races).
Stats: Webber's final F1 tally
Stats: Webber's final F1 tally Stats: Webber's final F1 tally
Stats: Alonso's Interlagos jinx
Stats: Alonso's Interlagos jinx Stats: Alonso's Interlagos jinx
Stats: only Ascari left to topple
Stats: only Ascari left to topple Stats: only Ascari left to topple
Stats: F1's late-race shootouts
Stats: F1's late-race shootouts Stats: F1's late-race shootouts
Stats: Modern F1's biggest wins
Stats: Modern F1's biggest wins Stats: Modern F1's biggest wins
Stats: Formula 1's pole jinxes
Stats: Formula 1's pole jinxes Stats: Formula 1's pole jinxes
Vettel's Formula 1 success in numbers
Vettel's Formula 1 success in numbers Vettel's Formula 1 success in numbers
Stats: McLaren has had it worse than this
Stats: McLaren has had it worse than this Stats: McLaren has had it worse than this
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership Arrow McLaren refreshes organisation with title changes to leadership
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell How Tanak and M-Sport nailed Chile tactics to end their WRC barren spell
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26 FIA approves Andretti entry as 11th F1 team from 2025-26
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future WRC Chile win “can only help” M-Sport’s future
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team The salvation story behind Benetton's emergence as an F1 team
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers Ranking the top 10 Benetton F1 drivers
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.