Fernando Alonso's podium options at Monza, where he will match another longevity record

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This weekend,

will equal

as the driver with the most races in F1 history (350).

A record to which he has never attached much importance, but which flew over his first appearance before the journalists in Monza.

At this circuit, where he achieved one of the best victories of his life 12 years ago with Ferrari, the Alpine leader has podium options after the sanctions against

and

.

"I am happy to continue here after so long. In two years, or whatever lies ahead of me, I will reach 400 races. This figure shows my passion and discipline to compete at the highest level, because if you don't perform, the teams will never They are going to offer you the opportunity to compete in so many great prizes", stressed the two-time world champion in the press room of the Autodromo Nazionale.

After 10 consecutive appointments in the points, Alonso is enjoying his best moment of the season, although he continues to regret those 40 or 50 points that escaped during the start and squeezing the options for his first podium.

An opportunity that could well materialize in this Italian GP, ​​given the power shown by the A522 and the problems of its opponents, forced to start from the bottom due to engine changes.

"We need some help"

"We are in the same place as the rest of the year, just behind Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, so our natural position should be seventh or eighth. To get on the podium we always need some help from these cars ahead." , advanced the Oviedo, who last Sunday amazed with a prodigious race pace in Zandvoort.

"The penalties to Carlos and Lewis could improve our position at the start, but in the race we could finish in our natural place," predicted Fernando, without ruling out another third place on the grid like the one signed at the Belgian GP.

The arrival at the Temple of Speed ​​should favor the aspirations of the A522, a single-seater that already offered a high level in other low-downforce circuits.

"We went very well in Baku and Spa, so I don't see any reason why we weren't very competitive here as well," said Alonso, who also underlined the upcoming races at Suzuka or Austin in red.

"The next one will be 2032"

Closing the stage in Alpine on the right foot, where he still has to overtake his teammate

in the table , seems like the great goal for the Spaniard.

"It's probably being, along with 2012, my best season in F1. Even more complete than when I was driving a dominant car. After 2012 and 2022, the next one will be 2032," joked the former McLaren driver.

Likewise, Alonso's good humor was evident when he was asked about

, who will test the 2021 Alpine here in a few days. "I ran into him in Zandvoort in an elevator and he told me: 'I need some advice.' that if I find five minutes we will have a coffee and talk about everything you need," he confirmed.

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