Alonso hints at ‘surprises’ to come: ‘I want to find the limits of what is possible’

Fernando Alonso says he is relishing the challenge of racing in Formula 1 well into his 40a and suggests he could have “surprises” when it comes to other commitments outside of the sport.

The Spaniard – who was F1 world champion in 2005 and ’06 – has extended his Aston Martin contract into 2027, meaning he will turn 46 in July while competing in his 25th season. Alonso says his versatility is one of his biggest strengths that he wants to use to differentiate himself from other drivers, hinting there could be further projects in other categories in the near future.

“I love challenges,” Alonso said. “As I said a few times, my way of understanding motorsport and my way of living in general is around racing cars. It has been like that all of my life.

“My strength has been to adapt to different cars, different rules: the V10, the V8, the V6, Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli, KERS, hybrid systems, ground effect, all these kind of things. Plus different series – prototypes, Indy, Dakar.

“I try to use that strength and probably try to do things from the past. Maybe in the ’80s or ’60s or ’90s they were possible. Now I think no one will try or attempt to do a few things. Max [Verstappen] is the only one trying to do some GT racing. But apart from that, I think the challenge is that I tried in the past and I will keep trying.

“Maybe you have more surprises in the next few weeks… There are things that people probably think that are impossible, but I want to find the limits of what is possible.”

Aston Martin’s Valkyrie will compete at Le Mans and the 24 Hours does not clash with a grand prix in 2027, although practice is likely to. However, while Alonso wouldn’t be drawn further on his non-F1 activities, he says he has taken the decision to keep racing in F1 despite being unsure he will enjoy the regulations next season.

“I have no guarantees that '27 will be more fun, but it is a commitment that you have to make with yourself,” he said. “At the end of the day, I feel fast, I feel motivated, I feel that I am enjoying what I am doing. And if I am sitting at home watching TV, watching races, I will feel that I can do better than them.

“That's what I felt in a way when I was away from F1 – I was watching races and I was thinking, ‘Wow, that was not right.’ I was always feeling the fire inside of being there and trying to do better. And I still feel it now and I said, until I [don’t] have that inside, I think it's not time to stop.

“So yes, the decision was more about the rules, how enjoyable it is to drive these cars and these rules. We come to an incredible circuit now [Malaysia’s Sepang], it's going to be sad, the middle sector, because we cannot use the battery there. If not, you don't have [battery] for the three consecutive straights, from Turn 15 to the last corner, last corner to Turn 1, Turn 1 to Turn 3. You have to use the full 100% battery on those three straights. So the rest is just charging the battery. So that's the problem we are facing now in terms of bringing the cars to the limit of the grip.

“I decided that maybe next year with the 60-40 [power split] and with the second year of the rules, maybe there is a better compromise on that. Let’s do it one more time, let’s give another opportunity, especially on the power unit side. We started [on] the wrong foot and it is a question mark what is going to happen next year, but I think they deserve another opportunity and I feel fast.”