Formula 1
Alonso motivated to stay in F1 "because I feel better than the others"
Fernando Alonso says he remains motivated to continue racing in Formula 1 “because I feel better than the others” and would stop if someone beat him on “pure abilities”.
Luke Smith
Edited: May 3, 2022, 8:51 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Two-time world champion Alonso made his return to F1 last year with Alpine after spending two seasons out of the series to explore other racing categories.
Alonso scored his first podium since Hungary 2014 at last year’s Qatar Grand Prix, and has been left frustrated by poor luck so far this year, believing he could have been in contention for pole in Australia.
At 40, Alonso is the oldest driver on the F1 grid, but has already signalled that he will look to extend his stay in the series beyond the end of the year when his Alpine contract expires.
Following the hydraulic failure in Australia that sidelined him in qualifying, Alonso’s difficult run of luck continued last weekend at Imola when contact on the opening lap with Mick Schumacher left him with damage that ultimately ended his race.
But Alonso showed no sign that the frustrating start to the year was making him think twice about his future in F1.
Asked what kept him motivated to continue in F1 given his recent poor luck, Alonso replied: “Because I feel better than the others.
“When someone comes and I see that [they are] beating me on pure abilities, I see that I'm not good anymore at the starts, I'm not good in preparing the car, or the other side of the garage is one second faster than me and I cannot match those times, maybe I’ll raise my hand and say: 'You know, this is time for me you know to think about something else’.
“But at the moment, I feel the opposite. I love racing.”
Fernando Alonso, Alpine A522
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
Alonso’s Alpine teammate Esteban Ocon has scored 20 points for the team so far this year, compared to just two from Alonso, who admitted his tally was “painful” to see given his poor luck at times. Ocon has a long-term contract in place with the team that runs to the end of the 2024 season.
The team also has reserve driver Oscar Piastri, who won last year’s Formula 2 title, looking to secure a drive in F1 next season. Alpine has already indicated that it would be open to loaning Piastri out to another team on the condition it could get him back.
Alonso said earlier this month that he would look to open talks with Alpine about his future “probably in summer”.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Magnussen no longer has weight of F1 title dream on his shoulders
Next article Ferrari: Important to continue Mission Winnow F1 sponsorship deal
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Luke Smith
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
Formula 1
Formula 1
1998 Belgian GP: When the Schumachers went to war
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Formula 1
Formula 1
The race that transformed perceptions of Red Bull
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
Formula 1
Formula 1
Hamilton in the process of selecting Brad Pitt’s co-star for F1 movie
More from
Fernando Alonso
“Am I confident? Probably not” – The unprecedented challenge Singapore is throwing at F1 drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
“Am I confident? Probably not” – The unprecedented challenge Singapore is throwing at F1 drivers
Fernando Alonso set for Dakar Rally comeback with Aston Martin
Dakar
Dakar
Fernando Alonso set for Dakar Rally comeback with Aston Martin
More from
Alpine
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Could Alpine-Geely deal to save WEC hypercar programme fall through?
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
Could Alpine-Geely deal to save WEC hypercar programme fall through?
Latest news
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
WRC
WRC WRC 34 min
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Singapore GP
1 h
‘I’m sideways all the time’ – How Alpine’s feral F1 car plagued Pierre Gasly in Singapore
Pedro Acosta proposes new idea for monitoring tyre pressure in MotoGP
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP 2 h
Pedro Acosta proposes new idea for monitoring tyre pressure in MotoGP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe