Fernando Alonso hopes to race on in F1 for "two or three more years", insisting talk about his retirement is just "an age thing" to justify the promotion of new young talents.
At 40-years-old, Alonso is obviously no longer a spring chicken, but the Alpine driver – widely regarded as one of the most talented drivers on the grid - remains as combative as ever on race day.
Two years away from the sport during which he applied his skills in the World Endurance Championship, at the Indy 500 and in the Dakar rally-raid served to remind him that Grand Prix racing remained his preferred field of expertise.
While the Spaniard has performed well at the start of his second season with Alpine, although he has little points to prove it, it's only logical to question the future of F1's senior statesman.
But the two-time world champion is quick to dismiss the age argument, insisting it's just a pretext to justify the promotion of younger talent.
"Obviously, if I was 25, there would not be this talk," he said, speaking in Melbourne ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix..
"It's an age thing that people try to find a way for the young talents. But I think this is about performance.
"Last year, I think I did well, I finished slightly in front of Esteban. Let's see this year how the battle goes.
"This is about performance, not about age.
"As I said at the beginning of the year, I still feel competitive and fast and feel that I am enjoying time in Formula 1.
"So, I will race, I guess, a couple more years - two or three more years."
While Esteban Ocon is contracted to Alpine for several more years, Alonso's deal runs out at the end of this season.
But with the Enstone outfit's highly rated junior Oscar Pisatri waiting in the wings, many believe the pressure is on Alonso to prove that he is a better proposition for the future for his team than the talented Aussie.
However, Alonso suggests that Alpine could lend out Piastri to another team next season, with McLaren a possible port of call for the young Aussie who is among the papaya squad's current pool of reserve driver for this season along with Mercedes FE chargers Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne.
"He is a good guy, obviously very talented," said Alonso.
"He won all the junior categories until now, which obviously shows that he has talent and is very professional and hard working in the simulator and in the factory.
"He is still very young. And hopefully he finds a seat soon.
"If [Piastri] is with Alpine, it will be good. If he's with another team, it will be good as well," said Alonso.
"But we'll find out and I will start these discussions probably in summer."
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