F1 News
Alonso alone at the top in Spain? "Machine more important than athlete"
- Estéban den Toom
Fernando Alonso was asked if he felt lonely as the only Spanish champion still active of his generation. At the time of asking, tennis player Rafael Nadal was just about to retire from his glittering career, so Alonso, at 43, is an exception within his generation. But the Aston Martin driver says that the difference is mainly in the nature of the sport.
"No, there is still obviously a few of us doing what we love to do and representing Spain. But it's true with Rafa leaving now, it's a different generation of footballers, or [Carlos] Alcaraz, or different sportsmen in Spain. But for us, or in my case, it is different," Alonso explained. He stressed that motorsport is a different category from the sports that have been previously mentioned.
Alonso on racing in Formula 1
The Spanish racing legend explained that racing works differently to Nadal's sport, tennis, for example: "Motorsport is a very unique sport where the machine is more important than the athlete. And we see that with Carlos [Sainz's] father, in the Dakar, in any other series. So I hope I can keep making my country proud in the future and that will be the end," the Aston Martin driver concluded.
Even at the age of 43, Alonso is definitely not sitting still besides racing in Formula 1. A few days ago, he shared a photo of himself in the gym, with his neck muscles attracting a lot of attention from Formula 1 fans on social media. Alonso seems to be completely ready for the new Formula 1 season that is starting in the next couple of months. On February 18, the cars will be presented in the O2 Arena in London in a brand-new event to unveil the new liveries for 2025. The first Grand Prix of the season is scheduled to begin in two months time.
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
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