--- title: "Fernando Alonso’s 2019 Pole-Setting Lap at Sebring Is Still Shocking to Watch" description: "This on-board video from 2019 shows Fernando Alonso breaking the fastest lap ever recorded at Sebring International Raceway." date: "2023-03-05" modified: "2023-03-05" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/fernando-alonsos-2019-pole-setting-lap-at-sebring-is-still-shocking-to-watch" categories: - "News" --- # Fernando Alonso’s 2019 Pole-Setting Lap at Sebring Is Still Shocking to Watch ![]() Fernando Alonso made today's 2023 [F1 season opener in Bahrain]() worth watching. It looked liked it was going to be another Max Verstappen-led snooze-fest—which it admittedly was anyway—but Alonso made things exciting by securing a very unexpected podium finish. He did so by expertly out-driving both Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz. To celebrate Alonso's brilliant drive today, let's take a look back at one of his most masterful performances, his 2019 record-breaking World Endurance Championship (WEC) qualifying lap around Sebring. During the 2019 WEC season, Fernando Alonso set the fastest lap ever recorded at Sebring International Raceway in the #8 [Toyota TS050]() Hybrid. His 1:40.124 qualifying lap time is still the fastest anyone's ever been around Sebring, even as cars have technically become even faster since then. In the onboard video, Alonso's heroic driving is still spectacular to watch. ![]() Motorsport pundits often talk about Alonso's mental processing speed and capacity. Even today, during the 2023 F1 Bahrain GP, commentator Martin Brundle said that Alonso typically only uses 25 percent of his brain power to actually drive the car, using the rest for strategy and planning. I'm not sure how you quantify such things but Alonso was asking about his teammate's surgically repaired wrist while racing, so I'd say it might be reasonably accurate. In this video, you see the superhuman reflexes it took to snake [Toyota's ]()hybrid endurance racer through Sebring's corners at speed. All the while, he was processing the avalanche of information being given to him by the steering wheel's massive screen. Just watching Alonso is exhausting, I can't imagine what it felt like to actually be behind the wheel. Alonso is one of the most accomplished drivers in the world, having had success at the highest levels of motorsport for 20 years. But he's also one of the most naturally gifted drivers in the world and this video proves it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ4oMz7ykPg *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()