“It was easy,” came Alonso’s clear response. “I think it didn’t change much from when we spoke in February at the car launch. I needed a few races, or a few weeks, to really think about myself, if I was ready to commit [to] more years in F1, because the calendars are just a little bit more intense now, the cars as well, the commitment.
“My love for F1 and my love for Aston Martin didn’t change, but I just wanted this time to really speak with myself and make the decision and the commitment. Obviously, F1 takes all your time, all your energy, you have to give up basically everything in life to keep racing, and I wanted to just speak with myself [to see] if I was ready to do so.
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“Once I took the decision, I think it was after Australia or something like that, I sat with Aston, which again is exactly the same as what I said in February, that it will be my first priority. It was not too difficult. I think we both wanted the same; I wanted to keep racing with Aston Martin, Aston Martin wanted also to keep my in the seat.
“When two parties want something at one point you reach an agreement, so I’m extremely excited to keep racing and to keep racing with this team, which I feel at home [with]. It was also a sense of loyalty that I wanted to express to my team. I felt this is just the beginning of the journey… it could not be the end of the journey for me and Aston Martin.”
Pushed on whether he considered retirement while weighing up the demands of travelling around the world, the various marketing commitments, media duties and everything else that goes with being an F1 driver, Alonso said: “Not really. I think it never went to my mind, retirement. I had 99% confidence that I will keep racing next year, so retirement was not an option.”
News Summary:
- Fernando Alonso on his new ‘lifetime’ Aston Martin deal, talks with rival teams and a Honda reunion
- Check all news and articles from the latest Cricket updates.