Site logo

Lord of the Rings

FEATURE BY MAX NOBLE
23/08/2018

Some time back Alonso's love of the stories, teachings and myths of the Samurai was a popular topic, and it was suggested that he was particularly keen on the book "The Book of Five Rings" (Go Rin no Sho) by the seventeenth century Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

The book explores the discovery, understanding and mastery of combat from one-on-one sword fighting up to the grand scale of battles, consistently urging the student to discover by doing, to study hard, and to observe what is effective, and not get distracted by flourishes and ineffective, yet fancy looking, technique.

Musashi himself was said to prefer a two-sword dueling style where the Katana (long curved sword, usually used two handed), and the Wakizashi (being a shorter single handed sword) were used simultaneously. Some modern readers of the text have rather taken it mean to be master of more than one approach, and adaptable to which best suits the moment.

So as Alonso San moves forward in his battle to win races, if not titles, in other series what might he be reflecting on from the Five Rings as his (current) book of achievements within F1 moves into the final few pages?

The first book The Book of Earth considers discusses The Way in general, and an approach to strategy. It also addresses the importance of good timing...

Timing is important in dancing and pipe or string music, for they are in rhythm only if timing is good... In all skills and abilities there is timing... There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord.

Well dear reader! So much there for Alonso to reflect upon! When it comes to the one-on-one duels at which Fernando excels on track, few would argue his immediate timing in these situations is beyond compare. He is one of the greatest wheel-to-wheel racers of his generation, and indeed, can hold his head high among the all-time greats as a highly-skilled craftsman with flawless timing when racing.

Then, oh Dear Lord, there is his team selection timing off the track. If ever there was a driver as a direct counterpoint to the great Fangio who was a Time Lord when it came to timing his team selections, attaining five titles with four different teams (Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Maserati) then it is Fernando. His arrival and departure times at McLaren and Ferrari being perfectly synced with ruinous dips in team form, while how close he came to signing with Red Bull we will only know when he finally publishes his "tell all" book. Does Vettel really hold titles that should have gone to the Samurai Spaniard?

So 10/10 to Alonso for perfectly mastering timing in the heat of battle, and 0/10 for team selection timing, giving an overall mark of 5/10.

Next we have The Book of Water. This addresses more on strategy, plus spirituality and philosophy.

In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined through calm.

This aligns with Buddhist and Zen teachings in general and is not a surprise from Musashi. I believe the young Alonso mastered this within the cockpit naturally, and did not recognise how being calm under pressure was a huge asset to him when driving flat-out on the tracks of the world. It was only when he climbed from the car and removed his helmet that all understanding of this great teaching appears to have drifted from his mind faster than camp fire smoke on a windy night.

Be it one of the many (insert-latest-disaster)-gate situations he found himself in, falling out with Ron Dennis, or going all livid-fury at the young Lewis Hamilton "Zen-like" is not a phrase one could comfortably apply to the early-career Fernando.

And yet, wise folk usually learn as they mature. And mature Alonso has. Today he is far calmer out the cockpit than at any time in his career. He is a fine driver who can inspire those around him. One might comment that it is a shame this cool head when out in daylight, and not locked in wheel-to-wheel combat, was not more in evidence a decade ago. Yet life rarely runs to plan for any of us, so Alonso scores 10/10 as "most improved Zen student" while scoring 6/10 for application (being dragged down by his grade average in earlier years).

Third on the bookshelf we find The Book of Fire. Once more with a focus on fighting, this book reviews the need for fine preparation, and effectively "Choosing one's battles".

You must look down on the enemy, and take up your attitude on slightly higher places.

Well, what can your humble scribe commit to parchment here?

If there is one book where Alonso has grasped what needs to be done, and then failed in execution it is this one! Endlessly seeking to "...take the higher ground." Fernando has hopped teams more than any other top driver in the last decade. Yet in so doing he has left a trail of grumpy town's folk, all waving rice-flails and petitioning the Shogun to respectfully kick his departing Samurai soundly and repeatedly up the backside.

And yet we now see Alonso applying this very approach once more. He is seeking a new battle ground, with a new set of opposing Samurai, new Shoguns, a new set of weapons, and a new set of town's folk with blunt instruments to wave in the air... as to that being in welcome or fury, only the 2019 season of some as yet unconfirmed motorsport category will, in time, reveal.

Application is good, outcomes, not so... I think a 7/10 in this area is a fair assessment of activities to date.

Our next instructive tome is The Book of Wind. Much as Sun Zsu's Art of War or Machiavelli's The Prince are applied today to business with significant direct relevance so, much of the Five Rings can be applied with a broad minded approach. The Book of Wind, however, is more specific to approaches of the times in which Musashi lived and operated. However, it does pass on the lesson that to gain insight into your own approaches it pays to have a keen understanding of your enemy's approach.

One could argue that Alonso is a master of this book. On track his understanding of the immediate situation, his race strategy, his driving approach, and the unfolding strategies of his rivals is near-flawless. It is this knowledge that often leads Alonso to finish "...above the capabilities of the car" due to his reading of the race, and his remarkable execution of overtaking attacks.

Once more, off track, Alonso has let paranoia expand this to see demons in every shadow, enemies in every motorhome, and career assassins in every press conference... And again, I believe he has worked on controlling the more extreme of his emotions, and he is making far more informed and relaxed decisions now than in previous seasons.

I believe an 8/10 is fair in this area. A strong performance, over-egged on occasion, yet strong, with remaining room for improvement.

Fifth and final book is The Book of Void. This is something of a philosophic epilogue and deals with "That which cannot be seen".

By knowing things that exist, you can know that which does not exist.

In the void is virtue, and no evil. Wisdom has existence, principle has existence, the Way has existence, spirit is nothingness.

Drawing on Musashi‘s Zen Buddhist, grounding the void is based around the Zen concepts sometimes translated as "emptiness".

In modern parlance this might be considered as "Mindfulness". Being totally in the moment and not distracted by emotion or useless thoughts.

Again, while I risk repeating myself, Alonso is the master of this when racing, and appears a slave to the opposite when out the car over the last few years. Age does appear to be gifting him insight, wisdom and reason when not behind the wheel, and we can only hope this has usefully informed his current decision to move to a new racing challenge next season.

Others have done the maths and noted that but for ten additional points in three key seasons, when he finished second in each instance, Alonso would now stand before us as a five time world champion. Such a championship haul being a mighty testament to his unquestioned driving ability.

Has The Book of Void equipped Alonso to look on those near misses and smile at his still remarkable achievements with relaxed pride? Listening to him today you might believe so.

Has the Samurai spirit within him found release in having fought well, and yet been bested on the field of battle, with no loss of honour? Unless I have the pleasure of sitting with Fernando for a glass of warm Sake, or Rioja, and having a quiet honest chat about innermost drive and fulfilment I do not think we will ever know the true feelings of a great double world champion, who once the visor is lowered has always fought with honour, and skill at the very highest level.

I think Alonso 2005 would score a 3/10 in this domain of Samurai teaching. I believe Alonso 2018 might be nudging a 9/10.

He may yet prove to us in his manner of continuing the fight that he is the Lord of the Five Rings, but sadly it is not as a five-time crowned world champion.

Max Noble.

Learn more about Max and check out his previous features, here

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST FEATURES

more features >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images
  • Pitpass.com latest F1/Formula 1 images

POST A COMMENT

or Register for a Pitpass ID to have your say

Please note that all posts are reactively moderated and must adhere to the site's posting rules and etiquette.

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by Geo, 04/10/2018 23:31

"Great article Max! It is a shame the Alonso, at this stage has only 2 World Championships considering his talent. I'd always rate him above Vettel. As we know there are other drivers, in the past, who also deserved championships but alas didn't win one or multiples."

Rating: Positive (1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Max Noble, 04/09/2018 23:49

"@ClarkwasGod - he can fit it in easily with his Indycar tests! And it’s going to be more fun than driving the current McLaren!!!"

Rating: Positive (1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 04/09/2018 18:39

"And looks like this will be in March - and I know a really good route to take him round, centred on the "Ghost Town" at Manor (just outside Austin)!!! ;-)"

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 30/08/2018 19:56

"@Max I wonder how many here know what Campag Bullet 80's actually are!!! Mind you, L'Alpe might be a clue..."

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by Max Noble, 29/08/2018 12:52

"@ClarkwasGod - first thanks for showing “On the Beach” was not yet a reality. Second perfect suggestion! Love the idea. Bit like Prost and Webber on Alpe d’Huez but more “home spun”. Love it. Fernando... your public awaits... :-)"

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 29/08/2018 12:28

"In preparation for his likely move to IndyCar, I have obtained a pair of Campag Bullet 80's - my cunning plan is to seek him out at some point next season, and suggest a bike ride where we can chat over things - the reality is I would be listening, cos all my energy would be expended in keeping up - hence the Bullets!!! ;-)"

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by Max Noble, 24/08/2018 0:12

"@Uffen - thanks for the smile! :-) On the plus side we are aligned on our view of Alonso (from afar), on the minus side that kind of cuts short the witty intelligent debate that PitPass articles can generate at the best of times (...and occasionally the worst...). I really am going to be fascinated to watch how Alonso’s 2019 unfolds... how McLaren fare without him... And if Stroll joins Renault with Daniel due to the compliment Ricciardo paid him by placing him in his dream F1 team because of his father’s yacht. :-) ... Who needs on track action!!??"

Rating: Neutral (0)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by Uffen, 23/08/2018 21:23

"Well done, Max! For the first time I have not a quibble nor a nit to pick. I think you nailed this one. Perhaps in Indycar Fernando will raise his score."

Rating: Positive (3)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Share this page

X

Copyright © Pitpass 2002 - 2024. All rights reserved.

about us  |  advertise  |  contact  |  privacy & security  |  rss  |  terms