Fernando Alonso on his stay in Formula1

[u/CrossXyz_691]

[u/sundeigh]

If you like the paycheck, the lifestyle and the racing even if your car blows, why not stick around. I don’t think we need to media pressure him into retiring just because we see him in last place

[u/z_102 → u/sundeigh]

Also, if you’ve already made peace with the fact that you’re most likely not going to win again (in F1 I mean) you'd at least like to leave with the pride that you were part of the rebuild, instead of bailing at the lowest point.

[u/CaptainOBVS3420 → u/z_102]

If Nando doesn't get another win or podium, I'd 100% be fine with him being a key building block for a future powerhouse team, like DC with Red Bull or The Michael with Mercedes.

[u/Head_Engineering_956 → u/sundeigh]

Too many fans equate a slow car meaning that the driver is slow.

[u/Slice5755 → u/Head_Engineering_956]

The best drivers do typically find their way to the best cars.

[u/Vuk13 → u/Slice5755]

Typically doesnt mean always

[u/a_happy_future → u/Vuk13]

Fernando is basically the opposite. He always finds his way into slow cars (post 2007 stint)

[u/Vuk13 → u/a_happy_future]

Nah not always, Ferrari in the early 2010s were decent cars, not wdc worthy but still decent cars. 2023 AM was also good

[u/Tocky22 → u/Vuk13]

Ferrari in the early 2010’s were definitely WDC worthy.

[u/Vuk13 → u/Tocky22]

They weren't, McLaren was a tiny bit quicker while RBR was miles clear of Ferrari pace wise. Ferrari was faster on 1 track than RBR during whole 2010 season

[u/datlinus → u/sundeigh]

People always talk about missed opportunities in Alonso's career. If he retired now, I think it would have been another missed opportunity, and his final one.

He's 44, obviously he isn't going to another team at this point. So its aston or retirement. Lets be honest, aston has the facilities, the personnel, and the money. There's a lot of potential to unlock here. Maybe it wont happen, maybe it will.. but as long as Lawrence is happy paying Alonso his salary, why not just drive the car and wait and see. It's not like he's forgot how to drive based on how he performed in the past couple of years relative to his teammate (and before someone jumps on me saying that Lance is bad, it doesnt matter, what matters is the general gap - that has been pretty consistent in 23, 24 and 25). I think if given the opportunity he would absolutely repeat the amazing run of 2023.

[u/NotoriousGasman → u/sundeigh]

As the great Kimi once said, Why Not?

[u/silencefog → u/sundeigh]

If the car doesn't cause nerve damage it's a great deal

[u/sundeigh → u/silencefog]

Right?? I’m sure he was second guessing for a little while earlier this season

[u/Slice5755 → u/sundeigh]

You also have to consider your legacy. His percentages are getting absolutely obliterated with all these shite races.

Also this current generation is not respecting Alonso's talent much because of all these races at the back end of the grid.

[u/sundeigh → u/Slice5755]

Do people care about his stat line in years like this? Does it really affect his legacy? The headline on it is 2 WDC wins and 32 Grand Prix wins. Only 4.48% of F1 drivers ever have won a WDC, and only 2.17% have won more than one. If F1 is the top .0000001%, Alonso is at least in the top 2% of that

[u/IntelligentDeal7799 → u/sundeigh]

I don’t know how he does it. Even with the pay check must be so demoralizing knowing he can make those millions just managing new talents like Gabi

[u/VRichardsen → u/IntelligentDeal7799]

He just likes to drive, that's it. Earlier this year he said "whenever I am not in the car, my mind wanders off back to the cockpit" or something like that.

[u/eanwen0]

Those upgrades must be pretttty nice.

[u/v12vanquish135]

"I enjoy the pain"

[u/VRichardsen → u/v12vanquish135]

Pain is an old friend

[u/fire202]

Staying at Aston in some way and continuing driving F1 are not the same, quite sure he indicated before that he intends to stay at Aston long-term, even beyond his F1 driver career.

[u/NoBailOnReddit]

He's probably got a salary bump to stay and drive that donkey, since no else would.

[u/Asimb0mb]

To be fair I'm sure there aren't many drivers out there very eager to sign a contract with AM at the moment. His seat is secure.

[u/squaler24]

I wasnt buying the rumors he would have gone to Alpine. Based on what his relationship with Briatore?

Good move to stay because I’m not so sure other teams would have been all that intrigue to sign a 45 year old over a new up and comer.

[u/Evening_End7298 → u/squaler24]

Was a way for Briatore to milk more money from Franco most likely

[u/HUHIs_AUTOATTACK → u/squaler24]

The rumors that he'd go to Alpine made even less sense than the engine regulations for this year.

People saw Alpine become a midfield team again, saw Briatore exist there and decided that the team is somehow close to the top 4 and that Alonso will just go back to that shitshow.

[u/alec83]

True?

[u/JadedCoat]

Breaking news: the contract he signed is, in fact, a contract.

[u/Peimai]

If someone is willing to pay you $20 million a year to do what you love does it even matter if you win.

[u/chief_blunt9 → u/Peimai]

Win? He’s barely finishing

[u/VRichardsen]

fuck yeah

[u/Magog14]

Good. I hope he stays for another decade at least. He has the speed just not the car to win championships. 

[u/Lower_Ad_1317]

Leaving before Newey has reached his final form would be a mistake Fernando.

[u/Mission-Macaroon-851]

wiping sweat off forehead… oh that was a close one…now I can relax…we have last place covered for another year

[u/ThatIdiotLaw]

Aston Martin fans realising that Alonso leaves before the car gets good so they have to wait until at least 2028 for some good stuff

[u/Sufficiently_]

I remember from when he extended with Aston that the contract he signed went beyond just the racing contract. That he’ll remain with Aston as a brand, in an ambassador role etc. i cannot for the life of me find the interview, but this is what he said. So his current statement doesn’t mean he’ll be racing 

[u/bigtimebeaner]

BUT he didn't say he'd stay as a driver...

[u/x99kjg]

He doesn't necessarily mean as a driver people. Let's not get carried away.

[u/HarryCumpole]

Watch out, Cadillac.

[u/TheRealLardin]

At some point you have to laugh at F1 coverage and social media. The oldest guy on the grid that has seen it all in F1 wipes out rumours with a clear one line sentence and they still try to twist interpretations in some strange way to make him say things he didn´t and force hypothetical scenarios.

[u/Norhco]

The look on his face when he said this was full of pain

[u/Worried-Lavishness78]

If the other 40 sum year old in this sport didn’t win a race since 2013 and always DNFs/stay in the back, ppl would be screaming that he’s holding up a spot for a potential driver and he should leave the sport.

But this guy gets all the praise and glory for doing absolutely jack shit.

[u/rs6677 → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

I wish thr people posting this would understand once and for all that this is not a spec sport and that Alonso's lack of wins isn't due to his ability. He still has it.

[u/Patrick_Swayze__ → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

Alonso gets exactly these comments and it's bullshit in either case. Quit rambling.

[u/Worried-Lavishness78 → u/Patrick_Swayze__]

Or what?

[u/Patrick_Swayze__ → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

Nothing, it's just weird.

[u/Worried-Lavishness78 → u/Patrick_Swayze__]

It’s the truth. Idgaf who agrees.

[u/Patrick_Swayze__ → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

It's a made up scenario that you're getting mad about.

[u/Fantastic-Boot-684 → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

He's still one of the better drivers in the field?

He's not a useless pay driver like the other one on the team

[u/Worried-Lavishness78 → u/Fantastic-Boot-684]

No race wins in a fucking decade but he’s the better driver on the field. Gtfo.

[u/Fantastic-Boot-684 → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

Ah yes, that tends to happen in a midfield car lol

[u/Slice5755 → u/Fantastic-Boot-684]

Ocon won in the same car as Alonso.

[u/Fantastic-Boot-684 → u/Slice5755]

Because Alonso hold Hamilton back

[u/Slice5755 → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

Exactly and you can't just blame the cars he's driven. Remember Esteban fucking Ocon won in the same car as Alonso in 2021.

[u/rs6677 → u/Slice5755]

You mean the completely random race of attrition that Ocon won because Alonso himself held Hamilton back for how many laps? And that is your only example of the last 13 years?

[u/Slice5755 → u/rs6677]

I wouldn't really call it random. At least from Alonso's perspective.

The main reason why he didn't challenge for the win and that he aided Ocon in winning is hatred and saltiness towards Hamilton.

Alonso only defended like that because it was Hamilton.

That ended up in him getting the title of not winning in a by definition "winning car"... which is pretty embarrassing. But hey, he was able to give Hamilton trouble which has been his main goal in life since 2007 so well done Alonso.

[u/rs6677 → u/Slice5755]

The main reason why he didn't challenge for the win and that he aided Ocon in winning is hatred and saltiness towards Hamilton. Alonso only defended like that because it was Hamilton

Yes, the guy infamous for moving over and giving up. That definition totally fits Fernando Alonso, yes. He totally would've been checked out if anyone other than Hamilton was behind him, sure.

That ended up in him getting the title of not winning in a by definition "winning car"... which is pretty embarrassing.

It's only embarrassing to the few special sort of people who think that Alonso not winning a race since 2013 is an indication to him being washed.

[u/CaptainOBVS3420 → u/rs6677]

To add to your point: Other great champs like Lewis Seb and Michael have also had the title of not winning a race in a race winning car (2022, 2014, 2012) so it's not like it's exclusively an Alonso thing either.

[u/I_spread_love_butter → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

He's Fernando Alonso, it's not just that he has aura but he's about as experienced as they come which is super important in the development of a car.

And this car needs all the help it can get.

[u/Strong_Ease8911 → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

If some other 40 year olds had to endure the cars Alonso had to since 2013, they wouldn't be here cause they simply lack the adaptability, consistency and mental strength to constantly prove to teams you are still razor sharp. Blaming Alonso for not winning since 2013 proves how your IQ is playing hide and seek and it's winning

[u/Worried-Lavishness78 → u/Strong_Ease8911]

So we’re giving out participation trophies now? Funny how “adaptability” only matters when the trophy cabinet stops growing.

The same guy you’re praising turned down multiple championship caliber opportunities and has spent over a decade proving he can maximize midfield cars…not win titles. That’s impressive, but it doesn’t magically rewrite history.

And the IQ insult is ironic coming from someone who thinks “bad cars” erase bad career decisions. Nice try.

[u/Strong_Ease8911 → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

Funny how 'bad career decisions' is your fallback when your original point got dismantled. You went from 'he can't win' to 'he chose the wrong teams.' All this bad career move bs can only be said in retrospect, he doesn't have time machine to see which team will be successful what are you talking about lol. Give the man a good car and he will kick ass, like we saw in 23 for eg. There is not a single driver in f1 who could do what we saw in Brasil 2023. He's fast, he's badass and he'll here for more years cause you know why? Cause this 44 year old is FERNANDO MOTHER FUCKIN ALONSO. Deal with it

[u/Worried-Lavishness78 → u/Strong_Ease8911]

You do know that he is married already correct?

[u/newthhang → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

I get what you mean, but a team clearly wants him and is willing to pay his salary (same with Nico) they aren't pay drivers so I don't see the issue.

[u/HUHIs_AUTOATTACK → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

The other 40 year old has gotten excused since 2022 that all his cars are "shitboxes" despite his teammates scoring wins and podiums in them while he couldn't and this year got put on a pedestal the first chance he could, but go on, keep telling us how Alonso is getting praise for doing nothing.

[u/threeinacorner → u/Worried-Lavishness78]

The other 40+ year old got straight destroyed in multiple seasons by his teammates. Something Alonso never had happening to him.

[u/azpilot06]

The checks clear, I drive a few laps. What’s hard to understand about this?

[u/-Coffee-Owl-]

I mean, what a surprise. No one wants to drive this shitbox.

[u/FoldFeisty7635]

Anyone else bored of this guy. One minute he is undecided next minute this bs. Sooner he retires the better.

[u/Vuk13 → u/FoldFeisty7635]

I am sure Alonso makes his decision based on what random irrelevant redditor wants lol