“If you want to commit, you can drive maybe until 48 or 49, or whatever, or even 50.“ Those were the words of Fernando Alonso when he cleared the pre-season fitness tests for 2024. He felt that his fitness and energy levels had not declined as one would expect at the age of 42, which is indeed an encouraging sign for the sport. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see Alonso in Formula 1?

However, his real mindset started to show when he was asked about the contract extension with Aston Martin beyond 2024. Although feeling fit enough to keep going, Alonso wasn’t sure he wanted to remain in F1, something the Aston Martin Ambassador, Pedro de la Rosa, recently shed light on during the ‘F1: Beyond the Grid’ podcast. What was Alonso’s reason to consider quitting?

With no championship in sight, it’s definitely hard to stay motivated. “I think that one thing that is very important is the fact that Fernando always kept to his words,” de la Rosa explained. “In the sense that at the beginning of the season, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue Formula 1 another year for ’25. He said, I need some time to think about and think how I progress during the year, and then when I am prepared, I will let you know.”

“And he kept to his words, the moment he realized that his energy levels were high enough that he wanted to commit to more Formula 1 driving, he just said I want to continue with Aston Martin,” Pedro de la Rosa added. “So I think that the question was really not with which team but if he wanted to continue in F1 and the level of intensity with which he approaches the sport is very very critical for him.”

With his latest contract extension, Fernando Alonso is sure to stay on the grid in the green outfit till the end of 2026, by which time he will be 45. What’s interesting is that Fernando said this was the longest contract he has ever signed in Formula 1. But we already know that one of his longest stints in F1 was 5 years between 2010 and 2014 with Ferrari. So does that mean he has decided to stick with the team well beyond his racing days? Or will Alonso take on some kind of leadership role at Aston Martin once he hangs up his helmet?

Pedro de la Rosa will happily leave his Aston Martin duties for Fernando Alonso

Later in the conversation, the former McLaren driver also spoke about what it might mean for his future now that Alonso has decided to stick with the team for the long term. De la Rosa said that he would be more than willing to happily step down from his role as ambassador if the Spaniard ever wanted to take on that role himself.

“Fernando will retire in Aston Martin, and then it means that Pedro will be out, you know,” he said as he laughed. “Fernando is in, Pedro will be out, that’s also good news, I mean for people or the team.“ Fernando has finally accepted that Aston Martin will be the last team he ever races for in Formula 1. He will be content with his decision about whether or not they can give him a championship-winning car in ’25 or a Honda engine in ’26.

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