Spanish Formula One star Fernando Alonso says the just concluded 2016 season ranks 3^rd on his list of best seasons since making his debut in 2001.

In a surprising analysis that sees the Mclaren-Honda driver leave out 2005 and 2006 title winning seasons, the Spaniard ranked the year 2012 as his best with 2014 season being second on his list.

Despite the improvements noticed in the McLaren-Honda team of 2016, pundits opine about the sojourn needed to better performances badly needed by Alonso’s team should they wish to aim for a position better that the sixth they clinched in this year’s championship.

2012 is fondly remember as the year he nearly beat another F1 sensation Sebastian Vettel to the title and the Spaniard had no gloss over how he felt about that particular season.

“2012 is probably my best season in formula one,” opined Alonso as he compared his various campaigns. “Then it could be 2014 my second best. Then probably this one will be on the final step of the podium so far.”

“I felt very confident in the car in every condition. Even the last 10 laps in Brazil I felt really competitive with 40-lap-old tyres, things like that. That confidence in the car gave me the opportunity to drive at the limit on many occasions. I consider this year on a very high standard for my driving part of view,” added the 35-year old.

Alonso’s racing partner Jason Burton is reported to be calling it quits for F1 come 2017. Belgian StoffelVandoorme has been named as the replacement.Vandoorme who happens to be 2015’s GP2 champion has already expressed the high hopes he might have racing with Alonso predicting a terrific year ahead.

Former McLaren driver Kevin Magnussen also endorsed the move reckoning that the Belgians new engagement is well timed.