That’s why I stay with Aston Martin

(Motorsport-Total.com) – Fernando Alonso is committed: to Aston Martin, but above all to Formula 1. The Spaniard signs a new contract with Lawrence Stroll’s team, which will keep him in the first class at least until the end of 2026. . Despite his advanced racing age of 42, the decision was not difficult for him, Alonso revealed after the deal was announced, giving a deeper insight into his racing spirit:

Fernando Alonso continues to rely on Aston Martin

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“It feels like a natural decision for me to continue – and to do it with Aston Martin,” says Alonso and explains about the conversation with his team: “It was easy. I think not much has changed since then “We talked. at the launch of the car in February I just needed a race or a few more weeks to think if I was ready to commit to Formula 1 for a few more years.”

“The calendars are getting tighter, like the cars and the commitments. But my love for Formula 1 and Aston Martin has not changed. I just wanted to check myself,” says the Spaniard, knowing well: ” Formula 1 “It takes all your time and energy, basically you have to drop everything to continue the race. I just wanted to pray with myself about it and see if I’m still ready for it.”

“But as soon as I made that decision, I think it was right after Australia, I sat down with Aston, as I said in February: that was my first priority and yes, it was not very difficult. I think ” We both wanted the same thing, “says Alonso: “I wanted to continue driving for Aston Martin and Aston Martin wanted me to keep my seat as both sides want, then at some point come together.”

“It can’t be the end”

After only four races of the 2024 season and despite many rumors about the possibility of a move to Red Bull or Mercedes, Alonso is keeping clear and extending his work sheet, which ends at the end of the season, for at least two more years:

“It is very exciting to continue racing with this team that I feel at home with,” says Alonso, who admits: “There was also a feeling of loyalty that I wanted to express to the team. We started together a year and a half ago. and we have achieved many things, some of which were unexpected that you can achieve very quickly in Formula 1.”

For Alonso, it is clear in retrospect: “That was, or at least I felt like, the beginning of the journey. It cannot be the end of the journey for me and Aston Martin. That is why I am very, very happy. and very pleased with the people in the factory, with the employees and our partners.

Photo series: All of Fernando Alonso’s Formula 1 cars

Alonso: He had talks with other teams

The first-class veteran does not hide that he also talked to other teams before signing: “I think that’s normal. When you start a conversation, you must first explore the market a little bit. You should also listen to everyone else. That’s just a normal procedure. I think it’s also legitimate to listen. recommendations and look at market movements.

The same for the racing teams affected: “It is clear that the teams looking for a driver also ask everywhere, that they knock on everyone’s door and ask about the status of the contract, even if they don’t like it. OK for me”, but without a clear goal. My first priority was Aston,” Alonso insists, adding: “In my head, Aston was the most logical decision, also the best. And I felt more desirable for Aston Martin.”

According to the Spaniard, things have never been the same with other teams: “Maybe it would have needed more time or these things, but at Aston there was a clear desire to work together, which I also had. That’s why it came quite easily.” believes Alonso, who also wants to close the topic with this: “I will not explain in detail which teams I talked to because that is no longer important now it is Aston Martin’s day and a day of good news.”

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Alonso: “Determine my own destiny”

However, one aspect that Alonso gives great importance is still important for him to emphasize: “I already said this in Jeddah that there are movements here and there, rumors about everyone, but also that I am far from it ” I will make my decision when the time comes I will not rush to because there is pressure here or there, on the other hand, I will not wait to see if something happens somewhere,” said the Spaniard.

Alonso boldly: “I will decide his fate – for better or for worse. I will do what I think is best, in my time – and not in the time that anyone dictates. After three or four “After the race. , I made the decision that I will continue and I am ready to give up a few more years of my normal life, but I am happy to continue traveling, I feel physically fit and motivated.

Here’s how Alonso’s decision-making process went

According to his own statement, Alonso deliberately waited until the start of the season to review these parameters to evaluate the difficult time in this phase of the year: “Photographs, videos, presentation of the car. a lot of energy,” says the Spaniard: “Traveling , time differences, big planes, all those things if I felt that I didn’t like what I was doing anymore, then maybe it would be better to stop racing.”

But as it is known, the answer was different – especially since Alonso made a simple decision: “Of course I also wanted to see how we did,” admits the driver of Aston Martin: “There is no guarantee that if I feel good, but. I see that things are not going well for Aston, we have hard car to drive, we are not competitive, I don’t see any progress in the team, but some bad sides that I don’t see then maybe I should look for something else.”

But the first opinion of 2024 encouraged the Spaniard: “Well, we were not on the podium, but I think it is very close among the top four teams, except for Red Bull. There will be races where we are better or worse “But we also keep a place new in the car four times in the first race, we had an improvement every race. That is encouraging and good to see.

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Alonso is convinced: “The team is making progress. Of course things are not going fast enough in Formula 1, it’s a very demanding sport, a challenging environment. But 18 months ago, 22 months ago, we still had little Jordan- Factory now we are, half of ten above or below Ferrari and Mercedes, and that kind of progress is something about this project, with all its ambitions, that’s why I want to be part of it.”

Alonso still has big plans for Aston Martin

The fact that, despite being 42 years old, Aston Martin immediately offered him a multi-year contract also played a role: “That was important, I’m not going to lie. Getting involved in a one-year project could. “It makes sense. But it’s not like I had a one-year proposal anywhere else. It was only in Aston, in the first discussion, that the interesting part of this project was everything we were building,” reveals Alonso.

“A new campus last year, a new wind tunnel this year, new rules will come in 2026. And Honda joins as a partner. For me it was necessary: to deal with new rules and a new project, with a new wind tunnel. ,” says Spanier and praises: ” Now we have incredibly talented people in the team on the technical side who will benefit the most from the new equipment so there were many things that made 2026 and Aston so interesting, it is…in a way, this is a life project for me.”

Because Alonso confirms that with a new contract he will remain with the Greens even after his career ends!

“This is the longest contract I have ever signed in my life, because it will tie me to Aston for so many years: Let’s see what the role is and how long I will continue to drive. But even after that, I will be done. 25 years of experience in Formula One 1, and those ten or 15 out, so about 40 years of experience in motorsport, to benefit the team that gives me this opportunity at this stage of my career is very motivating for the years to come.”

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Age does not stop Alonso

His great age does not give Methuselah of Formula 1 a headache: “I will be 45 years old or more and I will continue to race. If one day I feel that I am not motivated, out of shape or not in a hurry,” Alonso says, ” Then I – and I think I have a very loyal relationship with Aston – I’ll be the first to put my hand up and say, ‘Maybe I’ve lost something here and there.’ And then we will find a solution.”

However, Alonso is convinced: “I don’t see that happening in the next few years. As I said recently in Japan: I probably drove one of my best races just five days ago. I think I feel good, I feel strong. So I don’t see any problem with that,” said the old and new spearhead of Aston Martin, who is also happy: “Lewis (Hamilton) will be 40 years old in January next year, so at least I won’t be alone. 40 years old about that you are talking about.”

Love for Formula 1 was the deciding factor

The 2005 and 2006 world champion leaves no doubt that the fire still burns unchanged, at least inside him: “I had the feeling that I just loved driving so much and I couldn’t stop at the moment. The sacrifices you have to make, are smaller than the joy of driving and the passion I have.”

Alonso explains: “I manage Formula 1, I live in Formula 1, I train to be fit to drive Formula 1 cars, I even eat to be fit for Formula 1. And the moment when I feel like changing that lifestyle has not happened yet. My life is good and I love what I do, so I wouldn’t be happy sitting at home watching Formula 1 races because at the moment I feel I should be there.”

According to Alonso, his only fear is “that I will miss my family and I will not have my normal life or my family for some time. But in this case I said: ‘Okay, let’s look at it year by year, month by month.’ I also talked to my family about coming to the races more often. Now everyone is coming to Miami, my mom, my sister, my nieces, I’m worried about continuing.”

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The Spaniard admits that he never thought about ending his career after all: “If I stop Formula 1, I will drive somewhere else.” Although he currently only has the first class on his mind, he wants to try the Dakar Rally again at some point and Aston Martin’s Le Mans project is also an attractive prospect for him, says Alonso.

The original runner says: “It is very difficult for me to imagine life without the steering wheel in my hand. That will never happen, or at least not in the near future. So no, I was 99 percent sure that the next “I” will continue for the next year Finishing the job mine was not an option.”