Alonso’s latest Aston Martin contract extension means he’ll keep it up racing till at the least the top of the 2026 F1 marketing campaign, by which period he can be 45.
That might make him the oldest F1 driver to compete since Graham Hill in 1975.
Alonso already holds the file for essentially the most grand prix races ever began and is ready to hit an unprecedented 400 GPs on the 2024 Qatar spherical.
It’s 23 years for the reason that Spaniard made his F1 debut, subsequent yr would be the twentieth anniversary of his first world championship, whereas his most up-to-date world title got here for Toyota within the 2018-2019 World Endurance Championship.
McLaren driver Norris was requested about Alonso’s longevity within the Chinese language GP. Whereas additionally answering a query about whether or not he wish to race for thus lengthy, Norris replied: “I would higher watch out what I say. I feel it takes lots of dedication – I do not assume anybody thinks Fernando lacks that in any approach.
“He reveals that with every part that he does in life. Whether or not it is on the monitor or away from the monitor, in several sports activities or no matter.
“So, it will depend on what you wish to do. Everyone seems to be totally different. It is uncommon that you simply see somebody commit for thus lengthy in any sport.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Crew
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Photographs
“He is in all probability one of many oldest guys competing on the prime of any sport on this planet and I feel to have the ability to try this on the degree that he has executed and continues to do, you are in all probability by no means going to doubtlessly see it once more, inside Method 1.
“And should you do, it is going be extraordinarily uncommon. [I have] lots of lot of respect for that type of factor. I don’t know if I will wish to do it in 20 years’ time, if I am nonetheless going sturdy.
“However I really like the place I’m now and if I proceed to do such a factor, yeah, we’ll see.”
Talking alongside Norris, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon had been equally unsure on how lengthy they envision their F1 stints ideally lasting.
Ocon mentioned Alonso’s file is “a dream profession for any athlete or racing driver” and added, “I do not know if I’d nonetheless be racing at his age however, actually, his dedication is one thing that’s an instance for all of us”.
Leclerc mentioned it’s “troublesome to think about myself in 15- or 18-years’ time nonetheless [racing] in F1”, but additionally revealed he’s eyeing a particular new late-career problem in any case.
“I’d like to be racing nonetheless for a few years,” he added. “I wish to expertise different issues like Le Mans – that is positively a spot the place I’ll see myself racing in the future.
“I imply so long as I’m totally motivated then I’ll race. And I really like what I do, so for now that is what I wish to do for the longest time doable.”
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