While Aston Martin is going through a particularly difficult start to the season despite the hopes expressed, the two-time world champion continues to believe that he is at the peak of his art.
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At 44, Fernando Alonso has lost none of his confidence.
Asked how he evaluates his performances while his car is far from playing a leading role, the Spaniard did not hesitate to show his usual conviction.
Unshaken confidence despite the years
“I don’t measure anything at all. I am the best,” he said. “I have nothing to prove. I don’t need to feel anything to know that I am still at the level.”
World champion with Renault F1 Team in 2005 and 2006, Alonso remains considered one of the most talented drivers on the grid, even though his last Grand Prix win dates back to 2013 under Ferrari colors. Despite the lack of results matching his ambitions for several seasons, he believes his performance level has not decreased.
For him, it’s just a matter of equipment: “While I wait for a better opportunity, I try to help the team so that it maintains the competitive mindset necessary in Formula 1.”
Testing himself outside of F1
To continue assessing his level, Alonso explains that he multiplies experiences in other motorsport disciplines. The Spanish driver believes these challenges allow him to verify that he remains as fast as before.
“I drive in different categories, different cars, and I measure myself against other drivers,” analyzes the Matador. “If I go to a karting track and I’m not the fastest, then I will start to worry. If I get into a GT and I’m not the fastest, then I will be worried as well.”
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But so far, he sees no sign of decline: “For now, I remain the fastest. So when I arrive at a Formula 1 weekend, I simply consider that it’s a matter of time before having a better car.”
Beyond his two world titles, Alonso has built one of the most complete records in modern motorsport. He has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice, claimed the world title in WEC, and participated in three editions of the Indy 500. With 433 entries and 430 starts in Grand Prix, he also holds the record for the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history.
Formula 1 remains unique
Looking back on his beginnings in the discipline with Minardi in 2001, Alonso explains that the biggest difference with other categories was not the speed of the cars: “I would say that the first season is always the most striking. What impresses the most is not necessarily the car, but everything around it.”
According to him, the media exposure and off-track obligations constitute the real shock for a young driver discovering Formula 1: “The media attention, the events, everything you have to do outside of driving… that’s probably what is the most intimidating. The car is simply a faster version of the one you drove before. That’s not what impresses the most. But everything else, outside the wheel, represents a huge difference.”
Despite Aston Martin’s current difficulties, Alonso remains true to his reputation: that of a competitor convinced that his talent has never disappeared and that an opportunity to return to the top could still arise.
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