There’s a thin line in Formula 1 between defiance and denial – and former Grand Prix driver Felipe Massa seems to believe Fernando Alonso may be walking it.
As Aston Martin stumbles through a bruising start to 2026, the spotlight has shifted from performance to purpose. Alonso, once the sport’s ultimate warrior, now finds himself wrestling not just rivals, but machinery that refuses to cooperate.
And Massa is asking the uncomfortable question: is it still worth it?
Massa’s admiration for Alonso - his teammate at Ferrari between 2010 and 2013 - is unmistakable, but so is his concern.
“I like him a lot as a driver,” he told Spanish website Sport.
“I mean, he was undoubtedly the best I've ever competed against... and I really hope he continues to enjoy racing in Formula 1, although I'm not sure he's enjoying it much right now because, well, he's going through a lot of problems.”
“But I also hope that when he understands it's time to leave, he does so at the right moment. I don't think Fernando is a driver who should be in Formula 1 fighting at the back of the pack.
“There are so many other categories where he can enjoy himself and have fun… but anyway, I respect him a lot as a driver.”
The message is clear: a driver of Alonso’s calibre doesn’t belong in survival mode.
Massa didn’t stop there. When asked if he had ever been tempted to return to the grid after his retirement at the end of 2017, his answer doubled as a pointed reflection on Alonso’s situation.
“Me? Absolutely impossible. It was the right time to stop,” he insisted.
“We need to understand that age is very important in sports. Fernando is doing a good job. It's true that his teammate isn't Charles Leclerc, or Lando Norris, or Russell.”
The comparison cuts deep – subtly reframing Alonso’s internal benchmark. Taking a not-so-subtle dig at Lance Stroll, Massa added:
“So he could beat Stroll even at 65 years old! But I think you have to understand the right time to stop. Even Hamilton will do it soon. Maybe it's the right time to do other things,” he concluded.
It’s less a criticism than a cold truth: even legends must eventually yield.
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