Fernando Alonso, at a media conference in Silverstone during the British Grand Prix weekend, made it clear that he doesn't know what he will do after his F1 career. The 44-year-old two-time world champion could only reply, "No, I have no idea," to the question, "What would you do if you weren't in F1?".
Not ready for the Camino de Santiago.
When journalists asked if he would walk the Camino de Santiago, a pilgrimage route that stretches through Spain's Galicia region and passes through Alonso's hometown of Oviedo, the driver said he was open to the idea but that it wouldn't happen immediately after retirement. 'I want to do it someday, but not right after retirement. Especially since I have a three-month-old son; I can't just take him with me and walk around Spain for three weeks. I'll have to wait a few years,' he said.
Dakar ambition and a different role at Aston Martin.
Alonso emphasized that a large part of his future goals are related to motorsport, expressing his desire for a Dakar Rally victory more clearly than ever. 'I want to win the Dakar, I've said it many times. I also want to test myself again in endurance racing; especially if Max Verstappen wants to move into this field one day,' he said. He also stated his desire to take on a different role within Aston Martin after retiring from racing: 'I've been in Formula 1 for 26 years and I think I can contribute to the team. I would say that I am currently the second or third most experienced driver in the team. I would rather put this experience to the service of the team than spend it watching television at home.'‘
Alonso, during his time away from F1 in the late 2010s, became World Endurance Champion in the 2018-19 season, won the Le Mans 24 Hours twice with Toyota in 2018 and 2019, and also won the Daytona 24 Hours in 2019 with Cadillac. In addition, he participated in the Indianapolis 500 three times and competed in the 2020 Dakar Rally. Aston Martin's participation with the Valkyrie Hypercar in both the WEC and IMSA series is seen as a potential factor paving the way for the Spanish driver's return to sports car racing.
Summer break decision and the Hungary package
Alonso, a 32-time Grand Prix winner, has repeatedly stated that he will announce his decision regarding his future during the summer. Team principal Adrian Newey, meanwhile, has expressed hope that the upgrade package prepared for the Hungarian Grand Prix will convince Alonso to remain in the cockpit for the 2027 season. Alonso fueled speculation about his future last month by saying that the Barcelona Grand Prix would be his last race at that track. If Alonso retires, the seat next to Lance Stroll at Aston Martin will be vacant, becoming a decisive factor in the F1 driver transfer market.