Jun.12 (GMM) Fernando Alonso has admitted this weekend’s Spanish GP could possibly be his closing Method 1 race at Barcelona.
The 2-time world champion, who turns 45 subsequent month, stays undecided about whether or not to proceed racing past the top of his expiring Aston Martin contract.
With Barcelona absent from the 2027 calendar earlier than its return in 2028, Alonso acknowledged that this 12 months’s occasion carries further significance.
“It’s going to be a particular weekend, in all probability my final Barcelona race in Method 1,” he mentioned.
“I need to say due to everybody.”
The Spaniard stays one of many sport’s greatest stars in his dwelling nation, with hundreds of followers chanting “Alonso quedate” (Alonso keep) throughout his look on the fan zone on Thursday.
“I believe it’s my twenty third Spanish Grand Prix, and all of them have been magical,” Alonso mentioned.
“And this final (one) needs to be magical as properly.”
Pressed on whether or not he would possibly nonetheless be racing when Barcelona returns in two years, Alonso admitted he merely doesn’t know what the longer term holds. “After summer season I’ll take the choice to proceed or not,” he revealed.
“However Barcelona clearly is just not taking place subsequent 12 months, so if I don’t know what I’ll do subsequent 12 months, it’s practically unimaginable to make sure what I’ll do in two years’ time.”
The Aston Martin driver mentioned he has approached each race this season as if it may probably be his closing look at a selected venue.
“In Australia, my final time. In China, my final time. In Monaco…”
The uncertainty comes amid a troublesome season for Aston Martin and Honda, with the staff struggling close to the again of the grid regardless of main funding and the arrival of Adrian Newey.
But Alonso insists retirement itself is just not weighing on his thoughts.
“The toughest factor is to not win races and to not be aggressive,” he mentioned. “If it’s the final or not the final, it’s not affecting an excessive amount of.”
“I’m in peace with my profession and with my life.”
“If something comes now, welcome. If it doesn’t come, it won’t change my feeling.”
Alonso mentioned his achievements have already exceeded something he imagined as a toddler racing karts in Spain.
“I achieved much more than I ever dreamt,” he mentioned.
“I by no means dreamt to be a Method 1 driver after which race for the very best groups within the paddock and keep for a really very long time.”
“So every thing is a plus now.”
As for Aston Martin’s struggles, Alonso mentioned he stays totally motivated regardless of the disappointing begin to the brand new rules period.
“Motivation, no huge change,” he insisted. “I imagine in myself and I’ve full belief in what I’m capable of do.”
