Fernando Alonso clarifies age in motorsport is 'not like the Olympics'

Alonso, Alpine, Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Fernando Alonso

Alonso clarifies age in motorsport is 'not like the Olympics'

"This is not the Tour of France, this is not the Olympic games, this is not football"

Sam Hall

Saturday 14 August 2021 09:30

Fernando Alonso has claimed he could outrace his 23-year-old self "with one hand" as age less defines ability in motorsport than at the Olympics.

Alonso has enjoyed a strong upturn in since returning to F1 at the start of the season with Alpine, scoring points at the last six consecutive races.

After recently turning 40, the Spaniard said he is "tiring" of answering questions about his age and that he 'feels 25'.

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Speaking to select media including GPFans Global, Alonso was asked how long he could continue in F1.

"I don't know," he answered.

"It's a difficult question because what I feel, maybe it sounds opposite to the people outside because it seems that the sport and how the social media is in our world now.

"We seem to get confused about the age and about the performance that the sportsman can do. This is not the Tour of France, this is not the Olympic games, this is not football, where at 23, you are at the peak of your performance.

"If I race myself now, to myself, of 23, I will beat him with one hand. It's not the same myself, only. I guess everyone will give you the same answer. It's not [a fact that] the younger you are the quicker you are. This is not how it works, the watch in motorsport."

With a large amount of talent racing in junior categories trying to force a way into F1, Apline with its own academy of hopefuls, Alonso conceded he understands the clamour for new faces on the grid.

"As I said, there are people that want to see new names, they want to see new hopes, and they want to get rid of some of the normal names that they see every weekend," he said.

"I see myself [racing for a] very long time, if it's in Formula One, great. If it's not in Formula One, I will try to pursue some of the remaining challenges outside Formula One to be hopefully the most complete driver in motorsport ever."