Fernando Alonso has suggested that he is already planning to remain in Formula 1 beyond 2024, citing that his Aston Martin move has provided a “reset” to his motivation.
Alonso capitalised on Aston Martin’s emergence as Red Bull’s closest contender in the nascent stages of 2023 to stand on the podium six times in the first eight races.
Although the Silverstone-based squad’s competitiveness would tail away and the team dropped to fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, Alonso’s exemplary consistency and a further two top-three finishes in Zandvoort and Brazil ensured he classified fourth in the Drivers’ standings.
The Spaniard, who labelled last term his best season since 2012, is out of contract at the end of this year but has insinuated that he is preparing to extend his F1 career further.
“My return to F1, I believed that in a good moment at the driving level, I felt wasted being at home. This 2023 was a bit of a vindication and in 2024 or 2025 I do see myself with strength, desire, energy and optimism. Then, the results depend a little on you and your results as well,” Alonso proclaimed in the documentary ‘Revelado: Fernando’, to be aired on DAZN.
“The incredible year I had with Aston Martin, the podiums, the celebration, the champagne, the joy, the motivation again. Because any athlete needs results to remain motivated. And for me it was a reset at the level of motivation and desire,” he added.
With an image of himself on the rostrum in view, Alonso, who has not won a race since 2013, admitted it is those moments that inspire his continued drive to compete.
“These types of results and this energy and euphoria, you think you have superpowers, that you can run all your life and that you will continue to enjoy it,” he assessed.
“But I think that 2024 is going to be a good year. I don’t know, or results can never be promised.
“But I feel a good energy, to continue improving with the team, with Aston Martin. It is a good energy for the world of motorsport.
“F1 is increasing in popularity every year, we have more and more young people following the sport, the circuits are filling up, a record calendar, new countries that want to join.
“It seems that everything is on the crest of the wave and I don’t want to see it from the sofa, I want to see him there, on the crest.”
Alonso asserts that any internal doubts he harboured over his switch to Aston Martin, who had recorded successive finishes of seventh at that time, were dispelled when he had a one-off outing in the team’s AMR22 car at the annual post-season test in Abu Dhabi.
“Last year when I was at Alpine I didn’t imagine such a positive year in terms of results and all the podiums. When I changed, there were doubts, it wasn’t completely clear,” he said.
“There are always doubts, but in the winter tests I already saw that the car was competitive, I was faster, and everything was much easier from then on.”
Although Alonso can’t guarantee the British marque will replicate last season’s achievements, the two-time champion is enthused by the energy within the team.
“I don’t know if next year the smile will be maintained,” he accepted. “What I am clear about is that the team is motivated, it is hungry for victory. It is a young team, it has enthusiasm.
“There is another attitude, I believe, for racing. And this strength of Aston Martin will surely help me as a driver and person to stay positive during the year, so I hope the smile stays.”
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