Alonso: I race with the conviction that I can win the title

Fernando Alonso started a partnership with Aston Martin and made no secret of his dream of a third championship title. After three podium finishes in a row, he talks about it with calm confidence and you get the feeling that this is not such a utopia.

Fernando Alonso «Of course our ultimate goal is to win the championship, but we have to be realistic. So far, the team is facing a good season. Last year Aston Martin had a really hard time, so now, figuratively speaking, we have to learn to walk first and then run.

In 2023, we should gradually make improvements, improve the efficiency of this machine, and then take on a new project. We are now solving these problems and I hope that we will reach the podium more than once and also be able to fight for race wins. But to claim victory in the championship, the team must be prepared for this.

But I always believe it’s still possible – that’s why I keep racing. It is clear that this is a very serious challenge, which involves overcoming various difficulties, as we are opposed by strong teams that now dominate our sport. But I will keep racing and training every day with the conviction that I can win a third title.

In my 20 years in Formula 1 I’ve had the chance to fight with a lot of great drivers, and it’s just hard to pick one person who was difficult to fight with. But when I made my debut in the championship it was dominated by Michael Schumacher, so I will always say that the rivalry with him was a very special experience for me.

If we talk about the most memorable moments of my career, I can easily name three: the first title won with Renault, the first win at the wheel of a Ferrari and the first podium with Aston Martin. But the fondest memories are associated with the first victory in the championship, because then the dream of a lifetime came true.

When I think about Formula 1, all kinds of associations come to mind – this is, of course, the sound and power of the engine, everything that happens in the team’s garage, all these sounds related to the work of mechanics and their tools, and with it, of course, the atmosphere created by the fans in the stands.

But all this is in stark contrast to what you perceive when you are behind the wheel of a car on the track. At this point, you don’t hear any strange noises, you’re alone in the cockpit, left to your own devices, and only occasionally communicate with your engineer over the radio. There is a feeling that during this hour and a half the world just stops for you …

I am often asked how long I will stay in Formula 1, but I would like to know the answer to this question myself! When I started my career in F1 I thought it would take seven or eight years. But then I won two championships and thought I was probably ready to race for another year or two. And then I probably end my career, I thought at the time.

But now it turned out that it will be the longest in Formula 1 history – while I am full of energy, motivated and enjoy my work every day. I wake up in the morning thinking I love what I do, so I still have a few years ahead of me. I hope that I will spend these years in a team that will be able to fight for championship victory in the future.”