Formula 1's director of motorsport Ross Brawn says it's important for the sport to keep drivers like Fernando Alonso on the grid.
Alonso has been growing unhappy with F1 in recent years due to the lack of competitiveness of his current team McLaren.
He's been finding fulfilment elsewhere with his pursuit of motor sport's Triple Crown, which included victory in last month's Le Mans 24 Hours race.
All that remains is clinching the Indianapolis 500, and there's speculation that Alonso might decide to quit Formula 1 altogether at the end of this season to make that his priority.
Brawn said that he hopes that won't happen.
"Who knows, maybe he really is looking for fulfilment outside of Formula 1," said the former team owner. "But I really hope that’s not the case.
"He is still immensely quick and Formula 1 needs drivers with his undoubted charisma and talent."
Brawn is certainly impressed with Alonso's work ethic. All F1 teams and drivers are currently going through a gruelling and unprecedented 'triple header' with back-to-back races in France, Austria and Britain.
But Alonso preceded that with Le Mans between the Canadian and French Grands Prix, yet shows so signs of flagging.
"While everyone in Formula 1 is tackling the challenge of the sport’s first ever triple-header with determination and dedication, for [Alonso] the period has been even more intense," Brawn noted.
"In Canada, Fernando crossed the finish line of his 300th Grand Prix entry before going on to win the Le Mans 24 Hours the following weekend with Toyota, on his debut in this event.
"The race in Austria marked Fernando’s fourth consecutive weekend on track but there was no sign of weariness.
"[He] was as keen as ever to fight to the very last lap. In short, in Austria, Alonso once again drove a majestic race."
Alonso certainly exceeded even his own expectations at the Red Bull Ring. He managed to finish in the points after a storming drive, despite having been penalised for the team making overnight repairs to the MCL33 for damage sustained in qualifying,
"Fernando had to start from the pit lane due to a modification made under parc fermé," Brawn explained.
"But the two-time champion did not lose heart and managed to take an uncompetitive car all the way to eighth place."
Alonso himself admitted that it had been a surprise to finish in the points give where they had started.
But despite that noteworthy success - and the fact that he is still in eighth place in the drivers championship despite setbacks - Alonso pointed out that McLaren are far off where they should be.
“The points were a nice reward," Alonso remarked. "But we need to keep improving. The next race [at Silverstone] is our home Grand Prix and we need to be more competitive there."
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