The 25-year-old Fernando Alonso was very clear that he was not going to stay in Formula 1 for too long. Even coinciding with the announcement of Michael Schumacher’s first retirement, he even made a statement that has not been fulfilled.
If everything goes normally, Fernando Alonso He will become the driver with the most appearances in Formula 1 Grand Prix in history on October 2 in Singapore. But his career in the premier class will not end there, as the two-time world champion has already signed a contract with Aston Martin for the next two seasons.
In practice, this gives him the possibility of continuing in Formula 1 at least until age 43. A surprising fact in these times and that not even Fernando Alonso himself raised as something possible a few years ago.
“I don’t see myself with the heart to continue in F1 as long as Michael Schumacher”
“I don’t see myself running at 37 years old. I started with karts at 3 and since I was 19 I’ve been in F1… It’s impossible!»affirmed Fernando Alonso on September 9, 2006coinciding with the announcement of Michael Schumacher’s retirement (the first).
That day, the Spanish driver, current champion at the time and in the midst of fighting for the title with the seven-time German champion, showed that he is not very reliable when predicting the future.
«I do not see myself with the heart to continue in F1 as long as Michael Schumacher. So I see it very difficult to match his records and, above all, to get to his seven world titles. Although it all depends on how things go for me in my new McLaren-Mercedes team », he expanded on that topic.
A path full of obstacles
The truth is that that year, in which he won his second and last Formula 1 world title, Fernando Alonso made the first of a series of decisions that have led him to the current point 15 years later.
His track record is, of course, much less striking than everyone imagined at the time. Including the pilot himself, who he has never hidden his desire to become a three-time champion to emulate his childhood idol, Ayrton Senna.
However, the Asturian driver has always defended that his double stint at McLaren, his time at Ferrari and his double lap at Enstone with Renault and Alpine have provided him with experiences that have made him mature as a driver and as a person.
Be that as it may, the truth is that the young Alonso who was unable to endure many years in the demanding Formula 1 needed a little respite from it at the end of 2018but since his return in 2021 he seems firmly determined to continue even further than Michael Schumacher, who hung up his helmet for good a couple of months before his 44th birthday.
We must recognize it, that young 25-year-old Fernando Alonso has shown us that he is a much better driver than a futurologist.
Photos: Alpine F1 Team