For over two decades, Fernando Alonso has been a prominent figure in Formula 1, albeit with a brief hiatus. In his early years, he competed against distinct personalities like Michael Schumacher, Mika Häkkinen, and Jacques Villeneuve. Today, however, the landscape has changed significantly, according to the Spanish driver from Aston Martin. He believes that the current generation may have lost some of their unique character.
Alonso argues in an interview with the Financial Times that while not everything was better in the past, it was certainly different. This could be attributed to a generational gap. The 42-year-old driver now races against young adults and teenagers. Oscar Piastri was born a month after Alonso’s debut with Minardi in 2001, and Oliver Bearman, who secured a seat for next year, was a newborn when Alonso won his first world title in 2005.
Alonso feels that this is a very different generation from the one he started with. “There are definitely differences. I think the older generation was more sincere,” he believes. “Different in character, in the way they approached racing and life. They were very tough competitors.”
‘They Even Have People Speaking for Them’
The current generation of racers might be pampered too much. Alonso’s thoughts on the new generation of drivers: “I would say they are very talented. Perhaps even more so than before due to all the preparation, the academies, the simulator work, the technology, and all the data they have at their disposal to improve and learn quickly. They arrive better prepared in F1. But off the track or with the helmet off, they might be a bit the same and shyer in the way they approach things. They even have people speaking for them, for management, for the media, for fitness. They are well prepared, but perhaps they have lost a bit of their own character.”
Fernando Alonso will remain active in Formula 1 for at least two more seasons. The Spaniard believes that he is still the same “strong competitor” as before. “I hope that the drivers on the grid respect me and see me as a strong driver, who never gives up. I can still achieve good things if I have the right material. Even if the car is not 100 percent, they should keep an eye on me. I will always remain a fighter. I have not changed my approach,” says Alonso.
