Alonso walked away from F1 for 2 years on the finish of 2018 after rising bored with media and business commitments whereas his McLaren staff fell into the underside half of the standings.
In his time away, he twice received the Le Mans 24 Hours, chalked the 2018-19 World Endurance title and contested the Indianapolis 500 earlier than returning to F1 with Alpine in 2021.
Regardless of turning 42, a 2023 season at Aston Martin returned him to the rostrum eight instances to spice up his motivation additional.
He mentioned: “To be aggressive, to really feel the pace once more, and to reach to the weekend once more understanding that it’s essential to do all the pieces good as a result of there’s a podium risk or a race win risk, that basically provides you a really totally different method and a really totally different love for the stuff you do and dedications.”
However the two-time champion concedes that F1’s punishing schedule, slightly than age decline, could possibly be the issue that prompts him to give up once more.
Alonso reckoned: “I mentioned many instances even earlier than 2018, the day that I’ll cease racing shouldn’t be as a result of I really feel not motivated for driving or I really feel sluggish.
“If I really feel sluggish someday, I feel will probably be noticeable and suppose I cannot be proud of my efficiency and I would be the first one to lift my hand and say ‘that is time [to stop]’.
“However, I do not suppose that point will arrive. Actually, when it comes to feeling sluggish, as a result of I’ve excessive self-confidence in my efficiency, it could possibly be that with the calendar and with the demanding schedule that someday I’ll really feel it is time – as a result of there are different issues in life.”
Picture by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Pictures
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR23
The 2023 time period dropped to 22 rounds after the return of the Chinese language Grand Prix was postponed one other 12 months due to the pandemic, whereas an Imola occasion was cancelled by extreme flooding.
It ended with an Austin-Brazil-Mexico triple-header adopted by the Las Vegas GP working back-to-back with the Abu Dhabi finale.
For subsequent 12 months, the provisional calendar encompasses a season-ending Vegas-Qatar-Abu Dhabi triple-header. That is below assessment amid strain from groups and drivers, who argue the timetable is just too gruelling as sickness swept by the paddock within the Center East.
Alonso believes will probably be this working order that determines when his love for F1 runs out, slightly than any efficiency drop-off.
He continued: “It has been a really demanding season with solely 22 races, with two cancellations.
“Subsequent 12 months with the correct [24-round] calendar, we now have to see the way it feels.
“I noticed that it is a triple-header. I do not know why, I assumed that Vegas was alone subsequent 12 months… It is three races collectively. These sorts of issues will drain my battery, not driving.”
