Formula 1: Fernando Alonso thinks out loud about quitting

It’s hard to imagine Formula 1 without Fernando Alonso. There is no shortage of next-generation drivers, but there is a lack of charismatics – especially at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where Alonso had his first home game a quarter of a century ago and sparked a movement for Spain, like Michael Schumacher had previously achieved in Germany. The enthusiasm has gone in waves, but it continues, even these days. There is still a feeling of farewell to the seventh World Championship round of the season at the weekend, twice as much.

“It will be a special weekend, probably my last race in Barcelona in Formula 1,” said the racing driver, who turns 45 next month. A break is also beginning for the hosts on the premier class’s favorite test track; in the future, Catalonia will only appear in the calendar every two years, alternating with the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps. The title of the Spanish Grand Prix has already moved to Madrid, where the Madring will debut in September. The Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix will now take place in Montmeló for the first time.

And the memories of Alonso’s triumphs on Spanish soil, where he always struggled with two exceptions, are also fading. In 2006 he laid the foundation for his first title win with Renault, and in 2013 he achieved one of the great happy moments with Ferrari – and his last victory to date in a Formula 1 race.

This season he is even waiting for his first point win. Given the chaotic circumstances, many retirements and time penalties, Alonso moved up to tenth place in Monte Carlo last weekend. But after a successful Alpine protest, the point was taken away from him again. No problem for the driver: “We didn’t deserve the point anyway.” With a total of 2,393 points in his career, this obviously doesn’t matter to him, but it still sounds unusually laconic for a racing driver who sometimes seemed to be consumed by ambition.

Alonso seems to be almost more annoyed by the high proportion of electrical power than other critics

Alonso’s fatalism is simply a realistic assessment of the balance of power, because his Aston Martin, although created by the exceptional designer Adrian Newey, is the second worst car in the field, and the Honda engine in the rear is the worst of all. This means the prospects for the Sun Grand Prix look correspondingly bleak: “I won’t be competitive and won’t go far. We can only move forward if others fail.” When the British-Japanese technology isn’t working, the vibrations in the green car are so bad for the drivers that they can no longer keep their hands on the steering wheel.

Newey hopes that he will be able to bring a completely renovated racing car to the start by autumn. “We are slowly recovering from this tough start to the season and we have legitimate hopes for the second half of the year. Until then, however, it will be the same story every weekend,” said Alonso.

Even if the prospects are vague, it may be too late for him anyway. Fernando Alonso has to decide in the summer whether and how his career will continue. He doesn’t want to make a final decision yet: “Every year, when I start somewhere, I think that this could be the last time I’ve been here.” Despite three years off in his Formula 1 career, he is the lone record holder with 431 racing appearances, but the current regulations with the high proportion of electrical power seem to annoy him even more than the other critics such as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris – because Alonso was around longer with the old combustion engines and experienced the golden times. Goodbye, Alonsomania.

A little more luck in choosing an employer – and Alonso could have been even more successful in his career

The man from Asturias said he was basically at peace with his career and could also imagine a future in rally cars. But one thing in particular is bothering him at the moment: “The hardest thing for me is not winning any races and not being competitive.” Alonso would probably have more than the 2005 and 2006 World Cup titles under his belt if he had been happier with his choice of job.

He moved to McLaren twice and experienced flops twice. A sabbatical, with a triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the overall victory in the World Endurance Championship and strong performances in Indianapolis, rekindled his interest in Formula 1. The Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll really wanted him as a driving instructor for his son and the ragtag team. Since then, Alonso’s account balance has been even better, but the score has plummeted.

The experience alone acts like a protective suit against sporting depression if you want to follow Alonso’s self-analysis: “My motivation is still there because I trust in myself and know what I can achieve. If I have the same material as any other driver in the world, then I feel capable of taking on anyone, whether in Formula 1 or in other series. That feeling hasn’t changed now.”

The man, who became the father of a son in March, can, above all, have plans for his possible farewell performance in Barcelona: “I want to enjoy it. The atmosphere here was magical every time. I hope it will be the same this time.”