Alpine driver Fernando Alonso wants to continue in Formula 1 for another two to three years and shows no shyness about young talent Oscar Piastri
Fernando Alonso’s contract with Alpine expires at the end of the year, but the 40-year-old is not yet planning to leave Formula 1 after this season. Asked about this in the press conference ahead of the race weekend in Australia, the Spaniard says: “I think I will drive another two to three years in Formula 1. “
The situation at the French team seems a little tricky, however, with young talent and Alpine junior Oscar Piastri, who has won both Formula 2 and Formula 3 outright in the past two years, dragging his heels and teammate Esteban Ocon still on a multi-year contract.
“People always just talk about age to make room for the young talent, but here it’s about performance. If I was 25 years old, there would be no discussion at all,” says Alonso. The two-time Formula 1 world champion is still at the top of his game, he says.
Alonso: Would be good if Piastri drove for another team
“Last year I was good. I beat Esteban and we will see how the duel goes this year. I’m still fast and competitive.” Although he doesn’t want to be pressured by Piastri, he has nothing but words of praise for the Australian.
“He is a good kid who is very talented as you can see. He has won all the junior categories so far, which confirms his talent, but he is also very professional and works hard in the factory and in the simulator. “
Alonso, however, also makes no secret of the fact that he would also like to see Piastri in a team other than Alpine: “If he drives for Alpine, then that’s good, but it would also be good if he were to be with another team. “
Alonso soon to be most experienced Formula 1 driver of all time
“We will see and I will probably start my contract talks in the summer,” he adds. Teammate Ocon is also certain that Piastri would be the “best prepared driver ever” if he were to get a Formula One cockpit after his test year with Alpine.
Alonso would be 41 years old by the end of his current contract and is expected to break Kimi Raikkonen’s record of 353 Grand Prix starts during the season, making him the most experienced Formula One driver of all time.
The 2005 and 2006 world champion had already hung up his Formula One career at McLaren after the 2018 season to devote himself to other motorsport competitions before returning to the premier class in 2021.
During his time out, he managed to win the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Daytona. In addition to his participation in the Dakar Rally, he attempted to win the Indy 500 in order to claim the prestigious “Triple Crown”.
This is made up of a Formula 1 victory in Monaco, winning the 24-hour race in Le Mans and a victory in the Indy 500. The latter is still missing from the Alpine driver’s collection.
