Fernando Alonso hints his F1 retirement might come 'soon' - “I don't know exactly what I will do”

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has dropped hints about his retirement, indicating that his second exit from Formula 1 will come "soon".

Following his dreadful stint with McLaren, Alonso waved goodbye to F1 in 2018. The sabbatical was short-lived, as he returned to the sport two years later with Alpine, and then joined Aston Martin in 2023. Recently, he signed a contract extension with the Silverstone-based team, keeping him on board until at least 2026.

In a recent interview with The Times, Fernando Alonso discussed his thoughts on retirement and life after Formula 1. The 42-year-old Spaniard indicated that his retirement is around the corner and this time, will be permanent. He also mentioned that he is uncertain about his plans post-retirement.

"I know that it will soon arrive again, the moment that I will 100 percent say ‘bye bye’ to F1 and I don’t know exactly what I will do," said Alonso.

The Aston Martin F1 driver acknowledged the privileged position he holds as an F1 driver and the logical thought process of continuing as long as he remains competitive. However, he admitted that his commitment to F1 is impacting his ability to focus on other aspects of life.

"It’s something strange because we are privileged people, only 20 in the world driving Formula 1 cars, so it’s logical that you think you will love to do this as long as you are fast and you are happy. But at the same time, it’s taking away everything in your life that makes you happy," he added.

Fernando Alonso added that he plans to bring his family to more races and implement other changes to mitigate the downsides of continuing his racing career.

The veteran F1 driver currently holds the record for the most starts in F1, with 386 starts over a career spanning more than two decades.

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Fernando Alonso comments on how F1 has changed in two decades

Fernando Alonso, who made his F1 debut in 2001, has driven multiple generations of F1 machinery over the past two decades. The veteran driver disclosed that while the current generation of cars are easier to drive, he no longer feels like a daredevil behind the wheel of superfast cars.

"That heroic attitude from when I debuted in Formula 1 has been lost a bit. In a good way, it is easier for drivers of this generation to drive Formula 1 cars, whereas before it was more heroic," he said in the aforementioned interview.

"It's a strange feeling, not a sad one, but I remember that when I made my debut and arrived at an event, I saw that respect towards me and I was one of those heroes who drove those super-fast cars," he added.

Fernando Alonso added that drivers now have to rely more on engineers and simulators, whereas previously they had more direct control over the car.