Fernando Alonso, the man who has defied time and expectations in the world of Formula 1, continues to captivate and mystify in equal measure. A living legend in the truest sense, Alonso’s name is synonymous with excellence, grit, and an unwavering drive for perfection. Yet, as we move through the 2024 season, questions swirl: Is Alonso still the formidable racer we’ve come to admire? Or is the sheen starting to fade?

On paper, it would seem that Alonso’s season is as solid as one could hope for. With more than double the points of his teammate, Lance Stroll, Alonso has single-handedly kept Aston Martin afloat, guiding them to a respectable standing in the constructors’ championship. It’s no small feat. But this is Fernando Alonso we’re talking about—the two-time world champion, the man who, year after year, has defied the limitations of age and machinery alike.

And herein lies the conundrum. While his performance might seem more than adequate to the casual observer, Alonso himself remains unsatisfied. In a recent interview, he admitted, “I’m not super happy with the season from myself—but I’m much more happy than what the people think about the season of Fernando.” In true Alonso fashion, he walks a fine line between self-criticism and deflecting external pressure. Yes, he’s not at his peak, but don’t mistake that for underperformance. So, what’s really going on with Fernando Alonso this season? Is it the car? The AMR24, though certainly not the worst vehicle on the grid, has been a temperamental beast, prone to inconsistency. It’s about as dependable as a toddler hopped up on sugar, as Alonso has alluded to in interviews. Still, a driver of Alonso’s caliber has always been able to wrestle more out of a car than it seems capable of giving.

Could the issue be Lance Stroll, the Canadian driver who’s been making strides and closing the qualifying gap to Alonso, narrowing it to less than two-tenths of a second? While Alonso has publicly praised Stroll, calling him “mega” this season, the underlying truth is that no driver likes to be upstaged, especially not by their teammate. A narrowing gap in performance is a pressure cooker waiting to explode.

Or, could it be that time is finally catching up with Alonso? At 41 years old, Alonso is no longer the youngest driver on the grid. His incredible career has been built on razor-sharp qualifying performances, a skill that may be losing its edge ever so slightly. For years, Alonso seemed to be immune to the march of time, but 2024 has seen some moments where his one-lap pace isn’t what it used to be.

This idea—that Alonso’s legendary speed is beginning to wane—has sparked debate across the F1 paddock. His qualifying head-to-head against Stroll may stand at a commanding 13-3, but the margins are closer than they’ve been in previous seasons. Watching Alonso miss out on a Q3 session or fail to line up within the top five feels as strange as watching a once-great boxer take a few too many hits in the later rounds of their career.

Yet, despite these minor shortcomings, Alonso’s racecraft remains impeccable. He might not be at the front every weekend, but when the lights go out on Sunday, he transforms. His ability to extract every ounce of performance from a difficult car and outmaneuver his rivals remains sharper than a fresh set of soft tires. Alonso’s racing acumen isn’t fading; if anything, it’s evolving. His methodical race pace and strategic nous continue to make him one of the most dangerous competitors on the grid. The Aston Martin AMR24 may not be the championship-contending machine that Alonso hoped for, but he’s squeezing every drop of potential from it. He’s like a master barista getting the last drop of espresso from a worn-out machine: the results may not be perfect, but they’re still better than most. Alonso’s commitment to wringing out every last fraction of performance, even in subpar machinery, is what separates him from the rest of the field.

But is Alonso having a “good” season by his own lofty standards? That’s where the waters get murky. Alonso’s standards have always been impossibly high, and for someone who’s accustomed to fighting for championships, anything less than perfection is often seen as failure. He’s expressed dissatisfaction with his own performance this season, noting that he’s capable of more. And yet, even at 90%, Alonso’s performance is still leagues ahead of most drivers at their best. The difference, in the end, is minimal in the eyes of casual fans but glaring to someone with Alonso’s self-awareness.

In many ways, Fernando Alonso’s 2024 season is a mirror for his entire career: brilliant, erratic, misunderstood, but always compelling. The man, the myth, the legend continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in a Formula 1 car, even when circumstances aren’t in his favor. Alonso’s legacy is already secure—he’s a driver for the ages—but that doesn’t mean the Spaniard is ready to rest on his laurels. As the season winds down, the big question remains: Can Alonso find that missing piece that’s been eluding him? Will he deliver one last stroke of genius to remind us all why he’s considered one of the greatest drivers of his generation? Or is 2024 simply another chapter in the long, winding saga of Fernando Alonso—the racer who could make a mediocre car dance but who, on occasion, finds himself on the wrong side of luck?

One thing’s for certain: No matter how this season ends, Alonso remains a force of nature. His passion, skill, and resilience are unparalleled in the sport, and even when he’s not at his best, he’s still a driver that commands attention. Fernando Alonso may not be perfect, but he’s as close to it as we’ll ever get. And for that, the world of Formula 1 will always hold him in awe.