Fernando Alonso has come back to form at the Brazilian Grand Prix – having known all about showing fighting spirit at Interlagos.The Aston Martin driver can tie Michael Schumacher‘s record with his tenth podium in Brazil on Sunday, but he’ll be hoping to do so in less dramatic fashion than his first in 2003.Alonso has secured 106 podiums in Formula 1GettyAlonso has endured a frustrating season with the Silverstone-based team, who currently sit seventh in the F1 constructors’ standings.The 44-year-old qualified fifth and finished sixth in the Sao Paulo Sprint race, but will line up in 11th for the main race.That is just one spot lower than the place Alonso started at Interlagos in 2003, before he went on to take his first podium.The Sao Paulo Grand Prix, 22 years ago, remains most famous for the unlikely wet-weather victory taken by Jordan’s Giancarlo Fisichella.However, Alonso will also marvel at how he joined the Italian on the podium, having had to navigate a crash-filled race.Six cars, including Michael Schumacher, spun out at Turn 3 before the latter’s Ferrari teammate, Rubens Barrichello, retired on lap 47.And seven laps later, Fisichella took the lead from Kimi Raikkonen moments before Mark Webber suffered an almighty collision.Oscar Piastri’s manager ploughed into the concrete barriers at 150mph, with debris from the smashed car flying across the track.75 seconds later, Alonso, who had been ahead of Webber, was discussing the option of dry or wet tyres when he inadvertently drove into the wreckage at 270km/h.“If he hadn’t been wearing the HANS (Head and Neck Support) device, Fernando could have died. This system lessened the impact,” Alex Dias Ribeiro, who drove the medical car that day, described.Alonso ended the race early after crashing into Webber’s debrisYouTube/F1The huge impact sent the Spaniard straight to the medical centreYouTube/F1Alonso got out of the car under his own steam, but limped to the wall where he sat on the ground and was attended to by medics.His accident forced a premature end to the 2003 Brazilian GP on lap 55 of a scheduled 71, with Alonso stretched into an ambulance.The Spaniard had been running in third place when he crashed, meaning the then-Renault driver strangely secured his first podium.“The HANS device did its job. When I hit the tyres, my neck was stable. That’s why I think it’s so important for these kinds of accidents,” he later explained. “For me, the system isn’t uncomfortable at all in the car, and it was a total advantage in the crash. With that kind of impact, you usually suffer neck pain afterwards, and I didn’t have any problems.”Alonso was taken for an overnight stay in the hospital, leaving an empty step on the podium as Fisichella celebrated his race victory.Alonso missed the podium celebrations after being treated by medicsGettyIn the 20 years since, the two-time world champion has had plenty more time to spray the champagne at Interlagos.Alonso has been on the podium in Brazil a further eight times, leaving him just one away from tying Schumacher’s record of 10.Yet the two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has curiously never stood on the top step, having never won in Sao Paulo.Already this weekend, there have been flashbacks of 2003, when Piastri, Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto spun in the Sprint.Alonso successfully avoided the chaos to finish sixth on Saturday, but will need some more carnage to help him in the grand prix.