Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso is concerned about the direction the sport is taking and believes the manner in which Liberty Media is driving the sport is making him consider retirement as opposed to his age.
The Spaniard is now 42 years old and despite his advancing age, he managed his best season in the sport in over a decade, claiming eight podium finishes.
Media commitments have long been a sticking point for Alonso, with the two-time world champion quitting McLaren at the end of 2018 due to the same reason.
“I said many times even before 2018, the day that I will stop racing is not because I feel not motivated for driving or I feel slow.
“If I feel slow one day, I think it will be noticeable and think I will not be happy with my performance and I will be the first one to raise my hand and say ‘this is time [to stop]’.
“But, I don’t think that time will arrive. Honestly, in terms of feeling slow, because I have extreme self-confidence in my performance, it could be that with the calendar and with the demanding schedule that one day I will feel it’s time – because there are other things in life.”
While he was away from F1, he won the Le Mans 24 Hours twice, claimed the World Endurance title and also competed in the Indianapolis 500.
He finally returned to F1 a couple of seasons ago and has displayed tremendous skill that has proved his credentials as a top driver once again.
“To be competitive, to feel the speed again, and to arrive to the weekend again knowing that you need to do everything perfect because there is a podium possibility or a race win possibility, that really gives you a very different approach and a very different love for the things you do and dedications,” Alonso said.
Next year’s calendar features a Vegas-Qatar-Abu Dhabi triple-header.
Teams and drivers have been critical of the planning and it is currently under review and for Alonso, this gruelling schedule could force a lot of drivers to consider their future as well.
“It’s been a very demanding season with only 22 races, with two cancellations.
“Next year with the proper [24-round] calendar, we have to see how it feels.
“I saw that it’s a triple-header. I don’t know why, I thought that Vegas was alone next year… It’s three races together. These kinds of things will drain my battery, not driving.”