Chasing Our Dreams [f.a]

Korean Grand Prix, Yeongam

~ AGE 27 ~

HETHEL, NORFOLK, ENGLAND

Fernando Alonso was linked with several teams for the 2008 season after his split with McLaren. Renault, Red Bull, Toyota and Honda were all suggested in the media. Renault's Flavio Briatore stated that he would welcome Alonso's return to the French team. On 10 December 2007, Alonso signed a two-year contract to drive for Renault alongside Brazilian driver Nelson Pique Jr. 

During 2008 Formula One season, Fernando won only two races, in Singapore and Japan. Singapore win will later become one of many scandals, when Nelsinho declared that his crash was intentional and it was planned for Fernando to win. Fernando was declared innocent and Nelsinho was dropped out from Renault. In the last eight races of the season Alonso scored 48 points, which was more than any other driver (over the same period Massa scored 43 points and Hamilton scored 40 points). He finished the season fifth overall with 61 points, while also enabling Renault to finish fourth in the constructors standings with 80 points, ahead of fifth-placed Toyota.

2009 season wasn't much better. The new Renault R29 car did not meet up to Alonso's expectations at the start of the year, after it performed poorly in winter testing, despite the fact that there were no major reliability issues.

Fernando was deprived, he knew he could do so much better, but the car was poor and he wasn't in the mood. I wasn't frequent at the races during his McLaren season, I had hard time facing his wife. But during 2008 and 2009, I managed to visit more races than I was used to. Raquel, however, wasn't coming so often. I didn't mind.

I was still working at the Lotus in Ann Arbor, living with my all time room-mate Rosalinda Fernandes and I was dating for quite some time that wonderful boy, Paul Wasilewski. Amy Baker was texting Mark Webber on daily basis, and even though she wouldn't tell us, we were pretty sure that they hooked up after German Grand Prix 2009, which by the way, Webber won.

I flew back to Ann Arbor after Italian Grand Prix that year. Fernando finished fifth, but with that car, there was not much he could do. On my first working day after Monza, I was called up to the HR office.

''Here'' Amy handed me an envelope, ''You have to go to England. Norfolk''

''Why?'' I asked as I opened the envelope. It was a plane ticket. ''Jesus, I have to fly there tomorrow? Seriously?! I'm stil jet lagged from my last trip. Why do they need me there?''

''Have no idea, they want you to attend some meeting. Apparently Bahar will be there. It's gonna be fine, I'm sure.'' Amy answered.

I had no idea what I was going for, but I packed my bag, hugged my friends and kissed my boyfriend and stepped on the plane to take me to my Motherland. I have never been at the Headquarters, and it was huge and majestic as I imagined. I was tired as hell, I haven't slept well that night. I was anxious because I had no idea what was going on. I was just a designer at the company, there were tons of people like me there. Most of the people in Ann Arbor never met Mr. Bahar, who was the President at the time, or the man he replaced couple months earlier.

President's secretary showed me the way to the conference hall I was about to meet my official employer, and God was I surprised when I got in. There were some pretty familiar faces in there.

''Oh my God.'' I sighed. ''I mean... Good morning, gentleman. I'm London... Ummm... London Matthis.''

''Ms. Matthis, take a seat.'' Mr. Bahar showed me the place. ''It is really nice to meet you finally, I have heard so much about you. I believe you know these gentleman here - Eric Boullier, Gravity Sport Management and Flavio Briattore, Renault Formula One Team.''