Fernando Alonso has spent 25 years in Formula 1: at 44 years old, he remains the most veteran driver on the grid. A great deal of talk centers on his potential retirement, a recurring subject in press conferences and interviews, as well as his plans for the future. The Asturian has already made clear that he will make his decision during the summer break.
Alonso answers patiently, letting it be known that he will remain tied to motor racing. Yet beyond the four wheels, he has a pending, more mundane and much calmer plan: to walk the Camino de Santiago. The Asturian stated that he wants to do it, hinting at a farewell that is increasingly near.
“I would like to do it someday”
Interviewed during the British Grand Prix, held two weekends ago at Silverstone, Fernando Alonso answered several questions about his future. The Spanish double champion has harshly criticized the new single-seaters, frustrated with the performance of his car. Adrian Newey understands him perfectly, and has shown self-criticism. Still, he hopes to persuade the Asturian: he has asked Alonso to stay at Aston Martin if the Hungary upgrades convince him.
But Alonso’s farewell goes beyond the work of his car and the British team. It’s been a quarter of a century competing at the highest level, and it isn’t entirely clear that he wants to keep racing in a Formula 1 that has been losing some of its appeal: “I’ll make the decision during the summer break. A strong race in Hungary and understanding the aerodynamics package would help, but it will also depend on the direction Formula 1 takes,” he commented earlier this month.
Personal reasons are added: the sport’s demanding nature leaves little room for pursuing personal projects and family. And Alonso has just become a father: his son Leonard was born last March. Everything points to his departure being closer than ever. Hence, he is already being asked about his future plans, and he responds openly.
The question, gathered by Motorsport, surprised those present: “Would you like to undertake the Camino de Santiago?” And Alonso answered affirmatively: “I would like to do it someday, but it won’t be right after I retire”. The reason has names and surnames: Leonard Alonso Jiménez, his newborn. “He is three months old now and I can’t imagine spending three weeks walking across Spain with him. I’ll have to wait a couple of years.” In other words, he wants to share the experience with his little one, a journey especially tied to Asturias since the Camino Primitivo starts in Oviedo.
Be that as it may, he is already setting a timeline, bringing his retirement closer than ever after two World Championships and 32 Grands Prix reaching the top of the podium. Although retiring from Formula 1 does not necessarily mean he will hang up his helmet just yet. Winning the Dakar is among his ambitions, as he reiterated at Silverstone. He also hopes to return to the World Endurance Championship (WEC) following that stellar appearance in 2019: “I would like to challenge myself again in endurance racing, especially if Max Verstappen someday decides to compete in them.”
Images | Aston Martin, Pexels
