Soon to be 42 years old, Fernando Alonso is continuing to defy his critics by achieving podiums in F1. The sheer longevity of the Spaniard’s career and his performances at this age has earned him praise from many including former world champion Mika Hakkinen.
F1 drivers usually retire in their late 30s as they are unable to keep up with the demands of racing. The training and extensive travel take a toll on your body. At the same time, drivers see degradation in their racecraft.
Although, the same does not seem to be the case with Alonso, who is delivering exceptional performance every race weekend. But, Hakkinen claims the Spaniard’s days in F1 are numbered. He predicts Alonso’s lack of winning could turn him into a shadow of his current self in no time.
Fernando Alonso could see an end to his career, says Mika Hakkinen
Fernando Alonso arrived for his home race in Spain with hopes of achieving his 33rd race win. He has been chasing the victory for over a decade. Alonso hoped his streak of podiums in the 2023 season could take him to the top step of the podium, but Red Bull and Max Verstappen denied him the chance.
However, Mika Hakkinen claims it’s important for the Spaniard to achieve his goal by this season. Or else, the 42-year-old Aston Martin driver could be heading to an early exit from F1.
The Finn said on mid-season analysis for Unibet, “He is doing an incredible job and has great patience to run without winning because you are there to win. But one thing I know is if he doesn’t win this year, his speed will start declining. It’s a rule of physics.”
Chasing his 33rd win, Alonso had hoped to reach his goal in Monaco and Spain. While he did grab a P2 finish in Monaco more than 27 seconds behind the Red Bull, Alonso’s home race in Spain brought nothing but disappointment with a P7 finish.
Nevertheless, with Aston Martin bringing new upgrades to Canada, the team seems to be feeling optimistic about its performance in the upcoming race. Although, whether or not will they be able to grab the top spot remains to be seen.
Can Fernando Alonso win in 2023?
With Max Verstappen and Red Bull dominating the 2023 season, there is very little hope for Alonso to win his 33rd race in 2023. The driver will need a massive boost in speed or fantastic luck to beat the Dutchman to the chequered flag.
Regardless, the Spaniard remains confident and is waiting for the right opportunity to strike. He told F1, “I don’t know. We seem to have a car that is maybe not the fastest on the straights. We need to improve that, but we are very good at the corners.”
Furthermore, the Spaniard targeted three GPs he thinks the team can target for wins in the 2023 season – Monaco, Budapest, and Singapore. Alonso explained that these circuits are the slowest in this year’s calendar therefore the team has put their main hope on these at the moment.
Moreover, contrary to what Mika Hakkinen predicted, Alonso initially had not hoped for such success with Aston Martin in his first year with the team. However, he was able to deliver spectacular results with a car that had potential in it.
While the driver still hunts for his 33rd win, he is more focused on achieving the team’s goals. Aston Martin has brought serious upgrades for the upcoming race in Canada. Maybe the Spaniard can enjoy a fruitful weekend in the Circuit Giles Villeneuve, a track he does not have a good history with.
