Coulthard: Alonso did everything he could to keep fit

At the end of 2019, Fernando Alonso retired from Formula 1 after several unsuccessful seasons at McLaren. Two years later, the Spanish racer returned and showed high speed from the very first race, although there were predictions that Fernando would not succeed, as Michael Schumacher, who missed three seasons, had not achieved in his time.

Vice world champion in 2001 David Kulthrad thinks Alonso has succeeded, because even after leaving Formula 1, the Spaniard did not hang his racing helmet on a nail.

David Coulthard: “After leaving Formula 1, Alonso immediately got behind the wheel of another racing car. He raced in IndyCar, drove the Dakar, he has his own go-kart track. Fernando stayed in “race mode” and did whatever it took to stay in shape.

There is a saying: “Don’t let the old man in.” When you let old age take over, you eventually become who you are. But if you keep fighting, you will stay young as long as nature allows.

You can draw a comparison with Michael Schumacher, who stopped racing after he left Formula 1. After a while he tried to ride a motorcycle, but had an accident and broke his vertebra. When Michael returned to Formula 1 three years later, he was no longer the same as before.

He could still drive a car, he had his incredible working power, but he wasn’t as good as before, because he was already over forty and time passed.

So I think Fernando really helped keep him racing even outside of Formula 1.