Lando Norris claims Fernando Alonso’s career longevity won’t “EVER” be matched in F1

Fernando Alonso made his debut in 2001 at the Australian GP and since then has been the driver to look up to every race weekend.

Lando Norris claims Fernando Alonso’s career longevity won’t “EVER” be matched in F1

Lando Norris and Fernando Alonso (Via: Imago)

Fernando Alonso has had a long and elusive career in F1. The Spaniard was the one to break the reign of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari in the early 2000s and has been performing at the same level since then. Moreover, with the recent contract extension he is set expand his legacy more. Now McLaren’s Lando Norris has come forth highlighting the Spaniard’s phenomenal longevity.

Fernando Alonso is known for his strong determination to win and claim the third championship that he has eluded for a long, as he returned to the F1 grid in 2021 after his retirement. Though F1 drivers used to race in their 50s, such long stints in F1 spanning more than two decades are unheard of in the modern era. Hence Lando Norris believes that the 42-year-old’s record in F1 won’t ever be matched ever again.

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The Englishman claimed that Alonso is one of those exceptions as such kind of constant efforts and determination may never be seen in F1 again. Furthermore, he stated that he is not sure whether he will be in F1 in the next 20 years due to the high physical and mental toll on the driver and commended the Spanish driver for his exceptional ability.

He's probably one of the oldest guys competing at the top of any sport in the world and I think to be able to do that at the level that he has done and continues to do, you're probably never going to potentially see it again, within Formula 1. And if you do, it's going be extremely rare. [I have] a lot of lot of respect for that kind of thing. I have no idea if I'll want to do it in 20 years' time, if I'm still going strong.
Lando Norris said in an interview with Motorsport.com

Fernando Alonso claims that he lives for F1

With the double-champion renewing his contract with Aston Martin, he would be racing in F1 until at least he is 45. Still, it is not sure whether the Spaniard would finally hang his helmet as he has been performing brilliantly for the past few races.

Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso (Via: Imago)

Subsequently, when asked about his passion for F1, the 42-year-old stated that the sacrifices he makes for racing are worth it because it is the passion, as it drives him to go beyond than ever. Furthermore, he claimed that he does everything for F1 and lives for the sport, and that is why every change he has to make in his routine seems minute in front of the adrenaline rush provided by F1.

I felt I love too much driving that I cannot stop at the moment. The sacrifices you have to make are smaller than the passion I have for driving. I breathe F1, I live for F1, I train to be fit to drive F1, I eat to be fit to drive F1. It didn't arrive the moment I felt the need to change lifestyle. I love what I do. I will not be happy sitting at home watching F1 because at the moment I still feel I should be there.
Fernando Alonso said in an interview with BBC.

Apart from this, the former champion is currently sitting eighth in the interim driver’s standings. Subsequently, he would like to extend on this in Miami and overtake George Russell in the standings, who is ahead by a mere two points.

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