F1: Fernando Alonso Believes His Age Is An Advantage Heading Into 2022 Season

With the retirement of Kimi Raikkonen, now Fernando Alonso is the oldest driver in F1 at the age of 40. During the season he will turn 41 is just four years older than 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, but he feels his age is not a disadvantage especially after he returns with a strong season under his belt. 

Alonso believes that his experience driving in the world endurance championship where he won the LeMans twice and the race in Daytona could hand him a critical edge, especially with the tyres and the weight of the cars. 

Fernando Alonso had a cycling accident which hampered his 2021 preparations
Photo Credit: Instagram

"On the age, I feel good, honestly I feel an advantage. When I come to a circuit, I know the circuits. Now everyone is testing this 18-inch tyre and I know very well these tyres from the WEC," said the 2005 and 2006 F1 world champion. 

"There is exactly the same behavior on the tyres and the same way you have to drive the tyre, which is very different. So all the things I am facing, for other people are live for the first time, and for me, this is the second or third time. This is good," he explained. 

Alonso revealed the biggest challenge for the modern F1 driver is the year-long traveling as F1 continues to expand its calendar. The 2021 season had 21 races which is a record and the 2022 season will be even longer with 23 races. 

"The only problem to be older is that you have to have the motivation to go into a season that you will be 300 days per year away," he explained. 

The 2-time world champion is the only driver on the grid to have raced in LeMans 

"You have to have that desire, you have to have that lifestyle that allows you to dedicate yourself to this sport. Apart from that, all the other things are advantages. So because I'm in a moment in life that I want to dedicate my moment in time to F1, it's fantastic. I think I only see advantages," he added. 

He even believed that the cars weren't that demanding compared to what he experienced in 2004 and 2005 when he wasn't as experienced. 

He also revealed that he needs to train more because of his age these days. 

"Obviously, I don't train the same now that I will be 40 than when I was 23. You have to train more, you have to stretch more, you have to have a different food routine. You have to do many, many other things to be at the same shape and with the same strength.  I am ready to do so, that's why I came back as well. There are more sacrifices to do but that is the plan for this winter," he said. 

"I will be as strong as I can and I will know I will have to train and I will have to do more than other drivers because I am older than them," he proclaimed.