Drive to Survive: Fernando Alonso admits F1 was NOT the best part of racing career

Fernando Alonso speaks angrily into a microphone — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Drive to Survive

Alonso admits F1 was NOT the best part of racing career

Fernando Alonso enjoyed karting above all other aspects of his career

Shay Rogers

Saturday 17 February 2024 09:57

Fernando Alonso has been racing Formula 1 cars for over 20 years – which makes it a surprise that it hasn’t been the favourite part of his career as he told Netflix’s Drive to Survive cameras.

It’s Drive to Survive release month - which means that here at GPFans, we’re taking a look back at some of the most significant storylines throughout the show’s history.

Five seasons of chaos and we’re sure to get even more of it when the sixth instalment premieres on 23 February - the last day of Formula 1’s 2024 pre-season test in Bahrain.

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Here is the latest article where our editorial team go harking back to pivotal moments on the amazing docuseries...

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Two world championships and 380 races into his Formula 1 career, you would expect that Fernando Alonso has quite enjoyed racing at the pinnacle of world motorsport above all things.

The Spaniard has achieved just about everything one could dream of in the sport and continues to keep going at the grand old age of 42.

He could be in contention for a Mercedes drive in 2025 and recently spoke about being able to race until the age of 50 – which would be a first in the history of the sport.

The oldest driver to win a race was Luigi Fagioli aged 53 at the 1951 French Grand Prix, so he would have to go some to beat that record.

But with the advancements in modern technology and nutrition, there’s every chance that he could yet win another world championship with some luck.

Karting was Alonso's favourite

Fernando Alonso is the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history

He told Netflix’s Drive to Survive that karting was actually the most enjoyable part of his career to date.

“Karting has been for me, probably the best part of my racing career,” he said. “I’ve been in go-karts for more than 15 years and probably the best memories come from that part of my life.

“When you start racing and you jump in a go-kart for the first time, there is some kind of freedom.

“As a kid, you normally follow your parents and your friends and your teachers and school. Everything is always behind some rules.

“The first time you are behind the wheel, you are yourself. You are alone on a racetrack. That feeling I think, together with the speed, together with adrenaline is something that is difficult not to fall in love [with].”

As Ayrton Senna once said, karting is the purest form of racing and Alonso seems as if he is one to agree with that mantra.

If he hangs around the sport until 2026, there will be the chance to race two home grands prix in one year with both Barcelona and Madrid set to be on the calendar.

The last time that happened was in 2012, and Alonso won one of those races with Ferrari at the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

Formula 1 Fernando Alonso Drive to Survive Netflix