Alonso feels 'lucky' to race in same F1 era as Adrian Newey

Fernando Alonso has praised Red Bull’s Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey and stated he feels lucky to compete in the same era as the Briton.

Newey is regarded as one of the greatest car designers of all time and constructed Red Bull’s dominant RB19 car that won 21 out of the 22 races this year.

It marked the 14th car designed by Newey that has won a World Championship, with his first being the famed Williams FW14B from 1992.

Alonso has never worked in F1 with Newey, who has been part of the Red Bull set-up since 2007.

However, the two-time World Champion confirmed that he discussed teaming up with Newey in the past.

“He’s a legend of the sport,” Alonso told media including RacingNews365.com.

“We’ve been very close a few times to working together, we spoke about this.

“And I remember when he published the book a few years ago in Spain, I had the privilege to do the first page, the prologue.”

Alonso continued: “For me, he’s just an incredible person. I’m so lucky to work in the same environment as him even if we never worked together.

“I’m happy that I'm living and driving in this time [when] Adrian Newey is just building Formula 1 cars.

“I wish one day I was working with him. I will drive the Valkyrie (a car partly designed by Newey amid a collaboration between Red Bull and Aston Martin) at home, and maybe I feel something already when I jump in and that will make me happy.”

Alonso highlighted that there is a downside to Newey's impact in F1.

“He's responsible here for 19 drivers for two decades not winning championships,” the Spaniard laughed.