Fernando Alonso recently signed a new contract with Aston Martin, which means he’ll keep racing until at least 2026. By then, he’ll be 45 years old, making him the oldest Formula 1 driver since Graham Hill in 1975.
Alonso already holds the record for the most races started in Formula 1, and he’s set to reach an incredible milestone of 400 races at the 2024 Qatar round. It’s been 23 years since he started racing in Formula 1, and next year will mark the 20th anniversary of his first world championship win. His most recent world title was in the 2018-2019 World Endurance Championship with Toyota.
During the Chinese Grand Prix, McLaren driver Lando Norris talked about Alonso’s long career. When asked if he’d like to race for as long as Alonso, Norris said it takes a lot of dedication, which Alonso definitely has. He thinks it’s rare to see someone commit to a sport for so long, especially at the top level like Alonso does in Formula 1.
Norris respects Alonso a lot for what he’s achieved and thinks it’s unlikely we’ll see someone else like him in Formula 1. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon also spoke about Alonso’s career. Ocon called it a dream career and said Alonso’s dedication sets an example for everyone.
Leclerc finds it hard to imagine himself racing for as long as Alonso has, but he’s interested in trying new challenges like racing in Le Mans. He wants to keep racing for as long as he’s motivated and loves what he does.