Fernando Alonso is considered the most experienced driver ever in Formula 1. The 43-year-old Spaniard, who is driving his home race this weekend at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, thinks a lot about his future, although he doesn’t want to stop yet.
“Formula 1 is currently in a strong phase,” says Alonso, whose contract with Aston Martin runs until the end of next year. “We all enjoy the new fans and the growth of the sport. But you have to feel when it’s time to stop. I don’t have that feeling yet. I stand on the grid and feel motivated and happy. I’m still performing well.”
Yet Alonso knows that it is inevitable that there will come a time when he says goodbye to the sport in which he has been active for so long. He made his debut at the Australian Grand Prix in 2001. Jos Verstappen then drove for Arrows, his son Max was three years old and Michael Schumacher had only been world champion three times.
“I know a big decision is coming soon,” said Alonso, who became world champion with Renault in 2005 and 2006. “I’ve been behind the wheel for forty years. I know I have to stop that sometime, and that’s something I want to think carefully about.”
According to Alonso, not one specific event will be decisive, even though the new regulations next year will be an important factor. “That will certainly be an important moment, but not necessarily the decisive one.”
“I first need to see how next year starts and how motivated I am then. Every season feels different. It depends on your performance, how competitive you feel, how motivated you are to maintain your fitness. But also your private situation and family play a role.”
Alonso does not want to retire too early again
For the time being, there is no question of retirement. Alonso emphasizes that he still feels good both physically and mentally. “As long as I stay healthy and everything feels good, it is the stopwatch that will one day tell me whether I am still fast enough. So far I feel good about that. Even after a lesser race I am motivated to go to the next one.”
In 2018, Alonso already said goodbye to Formula 1, but he returned in 2021. “I came back because I needed this sport. The next time I make such a decision, I have to be one hundred percent sure.”
Whether that decision will come next year, Alonso doesn’t know yet. But at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya he can still be admired for the time being. “I’m getting in the car tomorrow and Sunday and I’m happy to be racing here. That’s enough for now.”