Formula 1 | De la Rosa: Alonso has the motivation of 15 years ago
Pedro de la Rosa admits he is impressed by Fernando Alonso’s motivation. A new Aston Martin F1 consultant spotted the two-time champion as he made his green debut at the Abu Dhabi test on Tuesday.
“What surprised me about him was, for example, I came on Monday and he was packing the seat.” De La Rosa said. “And he smiled and said he thinks his motivation is the same as when I first worked with him at McLaren in 2007.”
“Exactly the same approach. The preparation, the motivation, the attitude, the expectations, he’s a born competitor. His motivation, I’d say, is the same or more than 15 years ago. That’s what impresses me the most about Fernando.
“Because we can debate his speed and everything, but at the end of the day, motivation, attitude, that’s what makes the biggest difference in any athlete, especially at this age.”
“Abnormal” unwavering motivation
De la Rosa did not expect to see Alonso so motivated, and he reveals that his compatriot is only thinking about the competition: “It’s unbelievable. If I was in the car as regularly as he was, I would definitely quit at some point. My career is a little bit special because I quit, quit, quit, quit.”
“And every time you leave, you want to come back, but there’s a kind of break that gives you more oxygen or energy to come back. But in his case, it’s different. Fernando is not normal. “He’s a very driven guy. He calls me when he’s not in the car, he wants to organize a 24-hour race in Dubai.”
“I tell him he’s just finished the season and everyone wants to go on holiday. He wants to start racing again in December! So this is Fernando and I think that’s the good thing about him, he’s different. He doesn’t look like he’s from motor racing. have your fill.”
Alonso didn’t drive in Abu Dhabi with sponsors Aston Martin, but de la Rosa doesn’t mind: “It is. But there will be a lot of pictures of Fernando in the next few years, hopefully with a car with logos! It is what it is and I think it’s really good to have Fernando in a car anyway. .”
“It’s good for him, it’s good for the team. It’s good for him to know who he’s going to work with and to start working on what the team might ask him in the future. It’s a win. It’s a win-win situation. And I’m sure it’s going to be a big surprise.”
Aston Martin ‘high hopes’ for F1 success
De la Rosa is confident that Aston Martin F1 will be a winning team for years to come. He doesn’t know if Alonso will still be there when that happens, but he’s confident the team has the tools for its ambitions and success will follow.
“I would say nobody knows, it’s not maths. You have to bet on the best option there’s ever been in Formula 1 and that was Aston Martin for Fernando at the moment.
“Of course the current performance that anyone can see is disappointing compared to the Alps, but what Fernando sees is ambition, change, resources, a new wind tunnel, a new simulator, a new factory.”
“All this is synonymous with great hope. That is the main reason for the transfer of Fernando. Aston Martin is the future, but we do not know how soon it will bear fruit. An F1 team, it is not like a football team. By signing four football stars, there is already a lot to make a significant improvement did.”
“I don’t think I’m an optimist by nature, but I have high hopes for him. I’m a pretty objective person. I don’t know what level of progress we’re going to make and if it’s going to happen? Enough for Fernando.”
“But Aston Martin will win, I have no doubt. I just don’t know when. Will it be until Fernando retires or not? He has already said he would be proud to have contributed to the rise of this team. To continue.”
