Alonso: new F1 Fans May Not Grasp Driver Dedication
Fernando Alonso, speaking at today’s FIA press conference, suggested that new Formula 1 fans, perhaps drawn in by “Drive to survive” and an upcoming movie, might not fully comprehend the dedication required from experienced drivers like himself. When asked if these new fans could expect to see seasoned drivers winning races next year, Alonso responded with a touch of realism.
“If next year Nico [Hulkenberg] and myself have winning cars and we win eight consecutive races and fight for the championship, then they will think that we ate something different in winter or had a different training program and we learned how to drive in the winter,” Alonso stated. He emphasized that this scenario is not the everyday reality for drivers. “We train every day, eat every day, travel every day, go to the simulator every day. We try to be better and better every day with our teams.”
Alonso clarified that while drivers aim to share their successes with fans, the fans’ perception of their performance isn’t a primary focus. “We just try to share it with them and our fans around the world – but they are not in our priority,” he explained. He stressed that his comments were not intended to be “rude” towards fans, stating, “We love the fans but we don’t think about [whether] they realize how good or bad we drive. That is more for the team and the technical aspect of the sport, I think.” His ultimate goal, he added, is to “win races, try to work with our team the best we can, and deliver the performance.”
With McLaren currently dominating the constructors’ championship and their drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, poised to contend for the drivers’ title, Alonso believes that many teams and drivers are already shifting their focus to the 2026 season. “I think 80% of the focus is already on 2026, in a way,” he commented. This strategic shift, he noted, extends beyond engineers and design teams to the drivers themselves, with the exception of the leading McLaren duo.
For the rest of the grid, Alonso suggested that the current season is unlikely to see notable changes in the pecking order. “The rest of us, we are just thinking a little bit and dreaming about what could be a good season next year, because this year is going to change very little, I think, in the second part,” he said. While acknowledging the excitement of a close midfield battle for positions like fifth through ninth in the constructors’ championship,Alonso indicated that there isn’t much more to aim for in the remaining races of the current season. The focus, he concluded, will be on learning, continuous improvement, and working effectively with their teams to achieve the best possible results, even if it’s just a few points every few weekends.
