Fernando Alonso Sends Critical Message as He Contemplated Retirement

“Seb, we will miss you here. I know that you will come back as I did. So, see you very soon.”– said Fernando Alonso when Sebastian Vettel retired. Despite getting closer to retiring himself and even considering retirement, Fernando Alonso has gone ahead and signed a new deal with Aston Martin. But there is a critical message behind his extension. So much so that he might be able to welcome Vettel back to F1 whenever the German decides to make a comeback. What is this message?

Fernando Alonso signed with Aston Martin and everyone considered it a bad move, as he left Alpine, who was then in P4. But look how it has turned out to be. The Spaniard had his most successful year in a decade last year, scoring 206 points, 8 podiums, and finishing P4 in the Driver’s championship. With Aston Martin’s vision of winning the championship in upcoming years and signing Honda as an engine supplier, it provides an excellent opportunity for Alonso to challenge for his 3rd championship.

However, as Fernando Alonso announced the extension, he also talked about signing with Aston Martin as a no-brainer, but what actually mattered was whether the Spaniard was ready to commit to F1 for the foreseeable future. Whether Alonso wanted to give up everything and spend all his energy and time on F1. Once he decided on that, it was an easy and simple decision.

Now coming onto the cryptic part of the message. Aston Martin recently posted a quote from Alonso’s extension interview where the Spaniard said, “This is the longest contract I ever signed in my career. Something that will keep me linked with Aston Martin for many years to come.” The cryptic part of it comes from the fact that we only know that Alonso has signed a multi-year extension, but for how many years is still unknown. 

But Alonso suggesting that it is the longest contract he ever signed in his career means it is longer than the Ferrari contract he signed in 2011, which was a 4-year contract. This means the current Aston Martin contract is 5-years or more. Now we don’t exactly know if Alonso will be driving for all 5 years or if there’s an ambassadorial or management role involved in it. 

Read More: F1 Rumor: Carlos Sainz Offered 2-Year Deal for Mercedes by Toto Wolff

Regardless, we are excited to see Fernando Alonso in F1 in the near future, as his tactics and skills continue to amaze us. But what happened to Fernando Alonso’s rumored moves to Red Bull and Mercedes?

Fernando Alonso on offers from other teams: “Conversations were just light”

Fernando Alonso left Alpine and joined Aston Martin because the French team was just taking too much time to make up their mind whether they wanted to sign Alonso, and Aston Martin was clear. The same was the case this time where Alonso explains there were light talks with other teams, but Aston Martin showed clear intent and that’s what made him stay.

Fernando Alonso said, “At the end, it was also the best and the most, I felt the most wanted in Aston Martin. All the other conversations were just light, and never came to any conclusions or something like that. Maybe more time was needed, all these kinds of things. While in Aston, it was a clear desire to work together, which was the same that I had. That’s why it came very easy.”

Read More: George Russell Gets Homework on Fernando Alonso’s Racing Tactics; Ex-Ferrari Boss Urges the Brit to Learn From Lewis Hamilton

What do you think? Will Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin extension pay off?