Alonso’s current Aston Martin contract extension means he’ll keep it up racing till not less than the top of the 2026 F1 marketing campaign, by which era he will probably be 45.
That may make him the oldest F1 driver to compete since Graham Hill in 1975.
Alonso already holds the file for probably the most grand prix races ever began and is ready to hit an unprecedented 400 GPs on the 2024 Qatar spherical.
McLaren driver Norris was requested about Alonso’s longevity – it’s 23 years because the Spaniard made his F1 debut, subsequent 12 months would be the twentieth anniversary of his first world championship, whereas his most up-to-date world title got here for Toyota within the 2018-2019 World Endurance Championship – eventually weekend’s Chinese language GP.
Whereas additionally answering a query about whether or not he want to race for therefore lengthy, Norris replied: “I’d higher watch out what I say. I feel it takes loads of dedication – I do not suppose anybody thinks Fernando lacks that in any method.
“He reveals that with every thing that he does in life. Whether or not it is on the observe or away from the observe, in several sports activities or no matter.
“So, it will depend on what you need to do. Everyone seems to be totally different. It is uncommon that you just see somebody commit for therefore lengthy in any sport.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Staff
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
“He is in all probability one of many oldest guys competing on the high of any sport on the earth and I feel to have the ability to do this on the degree that he has carried out and continues to do, you are in all probability by no means going to doubtlessly see it once more, inside System 1. And in the event you do, it is going be extraordinarily uncommon.
“[I have] loads of lot of respect for that sort of factor. I do not know if I’ll need to do it in 20 years’ time, if I am nonetheless going robust.
“However I really like the place I’m now and if I proceed to do such a factor, yeah, we’ll see.”
Talking alongside Norris, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon have been equally unsure on how lengthy they envision their F1 stints ideally lasting.
Ocon stated Alonso’s file is “a dream profession for any athlete or racing driver” and added, “I do not know if I might nonetheless be racing at his age however, actually, his dedication is one thing that’s an instance for all of us”.
Leclerc stated it’s “tough to think about myself in 15- or 18-years’ time nonetheless [racing] in F1”, but in addition revealed he’s eyeing a particular new late-career problem in any case.
“I might like to be racing nonetheless for a few years,” he added. “I want to expertise different issues like Le Mans – that’s positively a spot the place I’ll see myself racing in the future.
“I imply so long as I’m absolutely motivated then I’ll race. And I really like what I do, so for now that is what I need to do for the longest time attainable.”
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