Old champion Fernando Alonso has left his future in Formula 1 open beyond the end of the season.
“I’m not sure,” said the 44-year-old Spaniard before the Miami Grand Prix (Sunday, 10:00 p.m. CEST/Sky): “I’m open to everything. I think I won’t really sit down with the team until after the summer break and make a decision.”
The two-time world champion’s contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of the season. “I’m completely calm,” said Alonso: “We also have to wait and see how the car improves and what the situation is for next year.”
The 44-year-old has had a year to forget with the British team so far. The weaknesses of the Honda drive are huge, Alonso only achieved the goal at the Japanese Grand Prix – in 18th place. “We had a difficult start to the season, but we are all happy to accept this challenge,” said Alonso: “We will get through this together, Aston Martin and Honda. Hopefully we can see the first results soon and have fun again on the race weekends.”
Dakar Rally instead of Formula 1?
If Alonso decides against Formula 1, he would still stay in racing and take part in the famous Dakar Rally.
“I’ve often said that it’s a challenge that I want to take on: winning endurance races, Formula 1 and rallies,” said Alonso, who, in addition to his successes in the premier class, also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice: “That would probably be unprecedented for any racing driver in the past, so that’s very exciting to me.”
And then there is his son Leonard, who was born in March. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, I can’t deny that,” said Alonso: “I want to race and he’s watching me do it. But it might take a few years before he becomes aware of it, and I don’t want to race for four or five years.”
