Fernando Alonso is set to embark on his 20th season in Formula 1, but despite his impressive trophy cabinet and experience, the 42-year-old Spaniard remains as strong as ever, driven by his insatiable desire to compete and win.
With a record 378 race starts under is belt, Alonso’s longevity is exceptional but what truly sets him apart is his enduring passion for racing.
He approaches each season with the same level of excitement and enthusiasm as a rookie, eager to test his limits and push the boundaries of performance, while always seeking to improve his skills.
“I'm constantly thinking about ways of getting faster behind the wheel and being a better driver,” he explained in an Aston Martin video in which he previews the 2024 season (see hereunder).
“You rewatch some of the races (from last year) that happened as well and maybe you see different lines, different strategies for all the teams, the drivers, so that curiosity, from the driver point of view, of getting better is always there.
“You never stop learning and you never stop getting better, so you have to be motivated to embrace those lessons.”
Alonso’s comment emphasizes that progress is not a destination but an ongoing journey, and that staying motivated is crucial for embracing new lessons and achieving one's goals.
But the Spaniard’s mindset is also about remaining “focused”, even “hyperfocused”.
“To win in Formula 1 you have to be extremely focused – hyper-focused,” he adds.
“To make a difference, you need to give that extra commitment, that extra determination. Hyperfocus is definitely the word if we want to succeed in Formula 1.”
Alonso’s outstanding dedication and single-mindedness isn’t lost on his Aston’s crews as Mikey Brown – his number one mechanic – reflected.
“For someone so experienced, to carry so much commitment coming into a new season, is pretty impressive, and also that filters down to all the guys who can see that,” says Brown.
“To come in and do two, three days doing the sim work, doing the training, looking at the new car, getting the seat fit done this early on before we go to Bahrain is pretty impressive”.
After spending a few days at Aston’s factory in Silverstone, kicking off in earnest his preparations with his team, Alonso has no doubts about his team’s own level of commitment heading into 2024.
“Hyperfocus means total dedication to what you do, to be united now, to also send a message to everyone that we are here to work 24 hours, seven days a week, and be ready for the new season,” he remarked.
“Everyone is 100 percent. 2023 was an incredible season, and 2024 is going to be even better.”
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