Can Fernando Alonso win at Australian GP 2023? Interesting stat behind every driver's 101st podium finish

The Spaniard registered a podium finish with Aston Martin after a long time.

The third race of the 2023 Formula 1 calendar takes place this weekend with the Australian Grand Prix at the Melbourne Circuit. Before the lights go out at Albert Park, we must talk about the elephant in the room - the form and the pressure on Fernando Alonso.

Before the season started, very few would have seen Fernando Alonso reclaiming his spot again as a top driver at 41 years. It's nothing short of a fairytale story, an unlikely comeback in the sport known for its brutality. Thank heavens that the Spaniard rethought postponing his retirement plans and decided to put on his helmet for a few more seasons at the pinnacle of motorsports.

Last year mid-season, Sebastian Vettel announced his retirement from the sport rather abruptly. The merry-go-round of swaps began. Aston Martin looked to fill up their vacancy with the most experienced mind on the grid. Alonso trusted the project and committed to their vision.

Alonso secured his 100th podium in his latest race at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix with some much-added drama. He finished the race in third place, but it got revoked with the final podium place handed to George Russell. However, this penalty got reversed again, meaning Alonso officially finished third.

We expect Fernando to run again for third place this weekend, but there's a catch. Statistically, talking about the 101st podium in F1, the drivers who had achieved his remarkable rare feat before the 41-year-old veteran did it with flair.

Every driver who achieved 101 (or more) podiums won on their 101st podium. So the daunting task of measuring against that record would be the centrepiece as we prepare for the racing weekend down under. Everyone amongst Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Kimi Raikkonen had finished their 101st podium standing tall at the top.

Arguably, they all had the best machinery on the grid to complement their skills, but unfortunately for Alonso, he doesn't have a better car than the front-runners, Red Bull.

Neither Max Verstappen nor Sergio Perez has ever won the Australian GP. Their best finish came last season when the Mexican driver finished second. Traditionally, Red Bull has always struggled around Albert Park, and historically only Sebastian Vettel triumphed in the landscape in 2011. So does the Aston Martin driver has any chance to finish first?

It's a challenge that makes up for an excellent narrative, but it would be a bit far-fetched to expect the Spaniard to usurp the odds and win the whole thing. Sure, AMR23 has displayed its Red Bull influences. But even with luck, it is difficult to imagine Alonso surprising us once more, taking out the strong and dominant duo of Verstappen and Perez.

Alonso has every chance of securing his 101st podium in Melbourne, as his back-to-back drives have proven that he is here to stay and will be a regular face during the podium celebration.