Fernando Alonso will “always” have the belief that he can win a third Formula 1 championship.
2023 will mark 17 years since the Spaniard won his second title at Renault back in 2006, with the push for a third seeing failed moves to McLaren, Ferrari and back to Renault again in that time.
His latest switch to Aston Martin has become promisingly, however, as huge performance gains over the winter have delivered three podiums in the first three races of this season.
As a result, Alonso is already looking for his first F1 win since Spain 2013 dubbed ‘Mission 33’, and his eyes are set on a bigger goal of becoming the oldest world champion since the 1950s.
“Always,” he told Aston Martin sponsor Bang and Olufsen on winning that elusive third F1 crown. “I believe it’s possible that’s why I keep racing obviously.
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“The challenge is big, we need to overcome some difficulties and some top teams that are now on top, but I race every day and I train every day thinking that it is possible.”
Alonso though is well aware that Aston Martin still has a long way to go to become genuine championship contenders in F1.
“I think at the moment we have to keep our feet on the ground,” he added. “The aim for the team is just to have a good season [in 2023].
“They struggled a lot in 2022 so I think we have to, let’s say, walk before run. I think this 2023 campaign is just about getting better, getting to know the car better, start a new project from day one. And that’s where we are at the moment.
“Hopefully we will have more podiums, and hopefully we fight for race wins. But I think to fight for the championship, I think we need to set the team a little bit before doing that.”
At 41, however, Alonso knows time isn’t on his side but any thoughts of retiring are still some way off.
“As long as I still feel I can give 100 percent, so definitely another two or three years,” he said on how long he will stay in F1.
“At my age, I have to approach many things differently. The training, the travelling, the events in between.
“Formula 1 takes up more and more of your time. You have to organise yourself well so you don’t get burned out.”