A lobby has started behind the scenes to persuade Fernando Alonso to stay active in Formula 1 longer. The Spaniard has been driving with Aston Martin almost the entire year in the backfield, although he surprisingly scored two World Championship points at the Dutch GP in Zandvoort, and openly doubts his sporting future. “I don’t need to persuade him. Of course, I just like to see him continue,” Verstappen responds.
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Among others, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem spoke out this week in favor of a longer stay for Alonso in the pinnacle of motorsport. “We cannot afford for Fernando, a great champion, to leave just because of the circumstances,” he said, among other things.
Both drivers have had a good relationship for some time. For that reason too, Verstappen sympathizes with the 2005 and 2006 world champion. At Aston Martin, his long and impressive career threatens to fizzle out like a candle in the night. The contract of the 45-year-old Spaniard expires at the end of this season. Verstappen understands his colleague’s doubts, he indicates.
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‘Can you be competitive?’
“In the end, it’s about: can you be competitive? Do you still enjoy it? But if it’s only an annoyance, then it’s better not to do it. And it won’t be very fun there now, everyone can imagine that,” said Max Verstappen. “He has to decide for himself what he is willing to sacrifice. If he sees the potential, also in the team with the engine and everything. But of course, I like to see him continue and I think everyone likes to see that. But it’s up to him.”
Alonso said somewhat cryptically last weekend in Monza that hopefully there is still more in store, but he was referring to the further adjustment of the technical regulations. Like all drivers, Alonso also hopes that the electric component will be somewhat less decisive in the future. Verstappen on that: “I don’t think much will change.”
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