Former Toro Rosso F1 driver Jaime Alguersuari is all set to re-enter the world of motorsports after he retired at the age of 25.
Between 2009 and 2011, the Spaniard drove for the Red Bull junior team and was the youngest driver in F1 history at the time.
However, he was soon released and pursued Formula E for a bit before retiring and working towards a music career as a DJ.
Alguersuari stated that after his exit from Formula 1, he found it difficult to cope.
The young driver is set to make a return to the World Karting Championship and said that he can walk back into the paddock with a smile.
What did Alguersuari say?
“There was a time when I felt anger and rejection towards Formula 1, towards Helmut Marko, towards Red Bull, towards everything that had happened,” Alguersuari told Motorsport-Total.com.
“I tried to work in Formula 1 for Movistar as a commentator, but as soon as we went to the track I was sick, I wasn’t happy to be there, it wasn’t my place at that moment, after all, I was only 23 years old.
“At that moment I was clinging to a great happiness that I’ve always had: the passion for music.”
‘Feel like a different person’
“(The return) happened because I feel like a different person today. I’m Squire, but I feel like Jaime Alguersuari again, I can go to a Formula 1 paddock again and Christian Horner and Marko say hello. I can smile,” he continued.
“It took me some time to feel good and to live with some situations that I didn’t like and now they don’t hurt as much as they did in the past.
“I’m 31 years old and I feel like one different person. I’m Jaime and (DJ) Squire. I can do many things and live well in any environment.
Alguersuari grateful for F1 opportunity
The Spaniard also mentioned that after he spent time away from F1, he was able to appreciate the opportunity he had to race in the world’s most premium motorsport competition.
“I was very lucky to have the opportunities that I had. I drove a lot of races, I made it into Formula 1 and got a few points,” he said.
“Of course I didn’t have a chance at Red Bull or in a more competitive car, but I began to realize that I was privileged anyway, and I have to be grateful for that. But it took me a while to realize it.”
“It took 10 years to close the chapter and I’ve now closed it by choosing to go back on track. I also wrote a book ‘Reinvent Yourself’. It took two years to write it, and it’s something that has helped me.
“I looked inside myself as I wrote it. In the past, when I saw something about Formula 1 on television, I would change channels. If the same thing happened while reading a newspaper, I would immediately switch sides.
“Today I can go into the AlphaTauri box and hug Franz Tost. I started to see the glass half full. I realized how lucky I was,” he concluded.
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