After temporarily leaving Formula 1 at the end of 2018, Fernando Alonso explored the world of motorsport, focusing on achieving the famous “Triple Crown” and new adventures, such as participating in the Dakar.
However, in 2021, the Spaniard returned to F1 with Alpine, before embarking on a different project: bringing Aston Martin to the top of the sport. The British brand has invested heavily in recent years, with a new wind tunnel becoming operational, many new technicians to strengthen the team, including star engineer Adrian Newey, and a dedicated Power Unit backed by a brand like Honda. Their ambitions are of the highest level.
For now, the project is in continuous change and evolution, so much so that the last two years have been a rollercoaster of emotions, with a spectacular start full of podiums, followed by a drop to mid-pack due to technical packages that didn’t work as expected. However, Fernando Alonso’s hope is to further enrich his trophy cabinet, perhaps as early as 2026, the year when new technical regulations will be introduced, marking a clear break with the past.
Fernando Alonso signed a new contract earlier this year that will see him continue with Aston Martin at least until 2026, including an ambassador agreement that will keep him tied to the manufacturer even after hanging up his helmet.
At 43, the Spaniard still aspires to win his third title, and this is his top priority over other ventures, though he hasn’t hidden his desire to return to compete in the Dakar in the future. While winning the Triple Crown—victory in the Indy 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix in Formula 1—remains a goal, it is currently not part of his plans.
“I’ve attempted the Indy 500 three times and didn’t succeed. It’s the only one I’m missing [for the Triple Crown]. But at the moment, it’s not in my plans,” Fernando Alonso said during an event for Aston sponsor, Cognizant.
“Right now, I’m very, very focused on Formula 1. In the next two or three years, I want to win the third world title. That is my first and only priority right now. After that, since I’ll be 45, 46 years old, I think the commitment it would take to go to the Indy 500, the amount of things I’d have to relearn… maybe it’ll be a bit too much. Or at least that’s what I think now, I can’t say 100%.”
Rather than return to the Indianapolis oval, the two-time world champion said it’s much more likely that he will retry the Dakar experience in Saudi Arabia, especially because it would be a confirmation of his versatility as a driver, an aspect Fernando Alonso has often wanted to emphasize. The underlying idea would be to replicate what Danilo Petrucci recently achieved, winning in various championships, as the motorcyclist has won in MotoGP, Superbike, the United States, and a stage of the Dakar.
During his sabbatical year from F1, Fernando Alonso finished 13th in the 2020 Dakar Rally with Toyota, alongside five-time motorcycle winner Marc Coma. “I think my next challenge will be the Dakar. If I can win the Dakar, I think it will be extremely gratifying for me personally, because it would mean that I’ve won in Formula 1, that I’ve won endurance races, that I’ve won Le Mans and Daytona. If I can also win in rallying, it will mean a lot to me as a driver.”
“You can’t drive a Formula 1 car the same way you drive a Le Mans car, which has to last 24 hours to win, or in the Dakar Rally, where you have to cross dunes and gravel in Saudi Arabia. So, I had to learn and start from scratch in many of these categories, surrounding myself with the best drivers in the world in those series, learning from them, and being humble.”
“It’s not a problem to accept that I had no idea how to drive a rally car, but day by day I improved and learned from them until I was able to compete in the toughest rally in the world.” – the Spanish driver concluded.
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