Spanish media recently reported that Fernando Alonso would return to the Dakar Rally, but the Aston Martin driver denied the rumours while dropping a hint for a future career move.
Spanish media outlet Soy Motor reported that Fernando Alonso would take on the Dakar Rally in 2027, 7 years after his last appearance. However, in the Formula 1 press conference ahead of the Singapore GP, the 45-year-old denied the reports, claiming it would be ‘nearly impossible’.
“I read those rumours, but no,” Alonso said to media.
The Dakar Rally takes place in Saudi Arabia in January, and the demanding endurance race spans over the course of 15 days. Although it is set about two months before the 2027 F1 season kicks off, Alonso suggested that preparing for both could be too physically demanding.
“I don’t think it’s possible physically. It’s nearly impossible to fit two demanding programmes like a Formula 1 championship and Dakar.”
Enough preparation and risk
F1 drivers are not new to racing in other categories during breaks in the F1 calendar. Four-time World Champion Max Verstappen has famously taken on the challenge of GT3 racing, and he also owns a GT3 team. However, Alonso is not looking to follow the Dutchman’s path.
“Not GT3,” he said when asked whether GT3 could be an option for the future. “I never tried. I mean, it needs a very big preparation.
“These challenges, I think because they were good, or more or less competitive in the past, people think that they are easy. It requires a lot of preparation, a lot of determination, a lot of luck to succeed.
“So when I do the next challenge, I will announce it, it will not be a rumour, it will be myself doing it, and it will be because I think there is enough preparation and enough of a risk to take.”
While he has yet to announce his next move, the Spaniard is assured he will do so when he feels ready.
‘Race drivers should race’
Additionally, Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack was asked about reports of Alonso taking up rally alongside F1.
“Yeah, I read this,” Krack began. “We had Robert [Kubica] doing rally, we had Kimi [Raikkonen] doing rally, we had Max [Verstappen] doing GT3, we had Lance [Stroll] doing GT3.
“I personally like that. It is good for motorsport in general if the drivers do that.
“What happens, I cannot really say in Fernando’s case for next year. But generally, it is a very good thing, and it also shows what racing approach or what racers they are that with the calendar we have, they want to do other things.”
Despite not revealing Alonso’s future plans outside F1, Krack continued to encourage drivers to take on new challenges. With Verstappen fitting in GT3 racing whenever there is a break in the F1 calendar, and now-retired drivers racing in other categories alongside F1, Krack believes ‘race drivers should race’.
“For Max, it was seven weekends in a row with all the GT3 stuff. It shows what racers they are,” Krack added.
“It will glue me to the TV as well, like all of us.”
Krack continued to be asked whether he would let his drivers take up other races, such as Le Mans.
“I’m not making this final approval, ‘yes or no, you are allowed to’. So I can’t really confirm. I’m just saying personally, this is a good thing because race drivers should race.”
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