F1 News: Fernando Alonso Threatens Retirement Ahead Of Intense 2024 Calendar - "Other Things In Life"
Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso emphasized that though he has full faith in his pace on the track, he will stop racing the day he feels he has slowed down, and that could happen as a result of Formula 1's demanding schedule. He revealed that back-to-back races, like the triple header next year, tend to drain his "battery".
Alonso has not only had a satisfactory stint in Formula 1 for a long time with two championship titles but he also won the Le Mans 24 Hours, secured the 2018-2019 World Endurance title, and even raced in the Indianapolis 500.
After his Formula 1 exit at the end of 2018, Alonso returned to the premier class in 2021 with Alpine. Courtesy of his big racing appetite, he moved to Aston Martin for the 2023 season and bagged eight podium finishes. Clearly, age might just be a number for him, as the 42-year-old driver shows no signs of slowing down.
However, he has now revealed that a tight racing schedule can slow him down, a point he feels could contribute to his exit from the sport. He said:
"To be competitive, to feel the speed again, and to arrive to the weekend again knowing that you need to do everything perfect because there is a podium possibility or a race win possibility, that really gives you a very different approach and a very different love for the things you do and dedications.
"I said many times even before 2018, the day that I will stop racing is not because I feel not motivated for driving or I feel slow.
"If I feel slow one day, I think it will be noticeable and think I will not be happy with my performance and I will be the first one to raise my hand and say 'this is time [to stop]'.
"But, I don't think that time will arrive. Honestly, in terms of feeling slow, because I have extreme self-confidence in my performance, it could be that with the calendar and with the demanding schedule that one day I will feel it's time - because there are other things in life."
Speaking of the schedule, Alonso added that the 2023 season was a demanding one despite two races being cancelled. For the 2024 season, the calendar features a triple-header at the end with the Las Vegas GP, the Qatar GP, and the Abu Dhabi GP happening on consecutive weekends.
Though the gruelling timetable is under review after much feedback from teams and drivers, it is something that the Aston Martin driver has been particularly dreading. He added:
"It's been a very demanding season [2023] with only 22 races, with two cancellations.
"Next year with the proper [24-round] calendar, we have to see how it feels.
"I saw that it's a triple-header. I don't know why, I thought that Vegas was alone next year… It's three races together. These kinds of things will drain my battery, not driving."
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