If ever a Grand Prix driver was determined to prove his newly-valued worth it was Fernando Alonso with a sensational opening burst on home territory in Spain last Sunday.

He had just been contracted for five more years at Ferrari in a deal probably the richest-ever in Formula One and said to be around £125 million (Dh750 million).

Whether he felt the need to justify the stunning outlay by the men from Maranello or he was merely motivated to prove his prowess we shall never know.

But the Spanish flyer's stupendous opening lap in Barcelona was little short of amazing when he left the illustrious likes of Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton wondering what had hit them until 20 laps or so on when the motor not the motivation let him down so crucially.

Promise

It is impossible to imagine the twice-champion's hurt at being lapped when there was so much promise after his breathtaking burst from the lights-out signal to go.

His hero to zero setback over which he had little or no control has hardly fazed him and, sensibly, he is looking forward to resurrecting his supremacy on Sunday rather than rueing his downfall a week since.

The Spanish Grand Prix was enough of a special personal display of daring and sheer skill to serve warning on his rivals ahead of the upcoming showpiece around the streets of Monaco that he can be a scarily genuine threat to the championship's front runners.

He has twice been a winner and pole sitter in the Principality and his mood to make it three times in each case is clear from his dialogue in the build-up to round six.

Fighting talk

The world title's better-placed runners would do well to heed the 29-year-old's fighting talk as Ferrari's hierarchy revel in his spirit and his promise to go for it. Not just in Monaco — but for the rest of the season and a third F1 world crown.

He is 67 points off the lead but insists: "There is still time to turn the situation around".

He crashed out of the running in Monaco last season, but he dismisses that misfortune with: "Anything can happen on this circuit".

And adds: "I am definitely not thinking of giving up on the championship after just five races.

"For better or worse I was born stubborn and there is time left as long as I have a good car."

 

The author is a London-based writer specialising in motor sports