Alonso and his doubts: “If I continue in F1 it will be above all because of the fans. They don’t deserve me to say goodbye with this result”
Fernando Alonso has not yet decided whether or not to continue driving in the F1 in 2027 and in the next courses. He must think and analyze many issues, as he acknowledged at the press conference on Thursday in Madring.
Ben Sulayem He said that the man from Oviedo assured him that he will continue. But Fernando has not yet announced anything and assured that there is still time for that to happen. And what could be seen of Fernando on race day on Sunday makes his indecision on the matter clearer than ever.
In the morning, the man from Ocveta was looking forward to enjoying the warmth of the Spanish fans in the drivers’ parade. And when he went down to the asphalt to throw t-shirts to the fans of ‘The Monumental’already sent a notice: “I don’t know if it will be the last time I’m going to race in Spain, so I want to take advantage of it.”
And after the race, the man from Oviedo slowed down more than normal on his way back to the pits to greet all the stands. It seemed like a farewell.
“The truth is that it has been a very special weekend. And today in particular. The parade of drivers has been nice. The formation lap, the lap now back to the pit lane. I put it in first gear and went at 20 km/h. It took me about 5 minutes to get to the parc ferme because I wanted to soak up each and every one of them, the hugs and the emotions that were in the stands. And it was nice,” he noted. Maybe it wasn’t a farewell, but just in case. He wanted to enjoy that turn in case it was the last one he gave in front of the Spanish fans, at home. But without certainties.
On the way back to the pit lane I put it in first gear and did it at 20 km/h. It took me about 5 minutes to arrive because I wanted to soak up each and every one of the hugs and emotions that were in the stands.
“Like in Barcelona this year. They know that the result is going to be what it is, and yet they have come with all the enthusiasm to enjoy the Grand Prix. I always feel bad about not giving them what they deserve, a better result. But hey, if I continue one more year, or two years or three or whatever they decide, if I do it, it would also be for them. Because I think that saying goodbye to the Spanish fans after a lifetime behind the wheel with a result this year is not deserved by anyone on the team, but above all the fans”.
Many factors to analyze
That phrase makes hope regarding its continuity increase. But there are many factors that Fernando must weigh.
On the one hand, there is fun and what he wants to do. The current motor regulation and the driving required by current F1 cars does not entertain him. In 2027 adjustments will arrive in these regulations, but he is not very optimistic that these will make him enjoy himself.
And at the same time, it does not help the idea of continuity. knowing that outside of F1 you have very tempting options to have fun pushing to the maximum with purer driving in enormous challenges like the Dakarreturn to Le Mans or the Indianapolis 500.
On the other hand, is the performance of the car of 2027. If he continues, he wants it to be to fight for better results, as he recognized in Monza. He doesn’t want another year like this.
He is excited to think that Adrian Newey has already found the way forward on the chassis side and that the simulation tools have a good correlation with what happens on the track, something that gives a lot of security to the project. However, the main question remains about the Honda engine.
Fernando is sure that Honda will end up having one of the best engines, but the main unknown is when. Right now, their disadvantage with the rest of the engines is enormous and no one knows if they will be able to get very close to the power of the rest of the engines from 2027 so that Fernando can drive next year without being hampered by the lack of top speed.
And finally, there is another factor: years of commitment. Alonso He already said it when he renewed the last time. If he renewed, it meant focusing his life on that, on driving and getting the most out of it. That means agreeing to dedicate yourself body and soul to a now exhausting calendar of 24 races.and in an F1 where promotional events have multiplied. What he wants is to drive, but to do so, he must also accept the rest of the things.
And in that sense, he knows that if he decides to commit 100% again to the track in F1, it would make sense to do so for several years (two or three), the time in which Honda could recover to give Fernando one last dance with options to shine. The decision is not easy, although there are other factors that can help it continue.
The first is that Aston Martin cannot allow me to stop driving. They cannot give that image to the outside of losing their biggest star. And second, that the challenges he has outside of F1 will be able to face them in the same way in 3 or 4 years. In that area, you should not be in a hurry. But as he has said many times, Fernando is the master of his destiny. He will be the one to choose.
