Alonso happy to wait on Alpine F1 contract talks until after summer break

Fernando Alonso is happy to leave talks with Alpine over a new Formula 1 contract until after the summer break as he looks to extend his stay on the grid.

Fernando Alonso, Alpine F1 Team

Two-time world champion Alonso returned to F1 in 2021 with Alpine after taking two years out of the championship to explore other racing interests in the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Indy 500 and the Dakar Rally.

At 40, the Spaniard is the oldest driver on the grid, yet he has been clear in his ambition to keep racing beyond the end of this year when his current Alpine contract expires.

With Esteban Ocon under a long-term contract, Alonso’s seat is the only one free for Alpine next year should it wish for a change in its line-up. The team has reigning Formula 2 champion Oscar Piastri vying for a place on the F1 grid in 2023, although he looks set to join Williams on loan.

Alpine F1 boss Otmar Szafnauer said on Saturday morning at Silverstone that the team had not “really started talking in detail” with Alonso about his future, but would do so “just after the break” through August.

Alonso confirmed he had a similar timeframe in mind for talks and that he would be happy to wait until after the summer break, particularly given the packed schedule of four F1 races in July.

“So far, yeah, we didn’t start any negotiations,” Alonso said on Saturday after qualifying.

“My aim, as I said some times, is to continue, but yeah, until the summer break, I want to concentrate [on racing].

"This July, we have four races, and I need to score points because the first nine races have been a little bit unlucky for me.”

Fernando Alonso, Alpine A522

Fernando Alonso, Alpine A522

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Alonso went on to record his best result of the 2022 season in Sunday’s British Grand Prix, crossing the line fifth after tailing Sergio Perez, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc closely in their fight for the podium in the closing stages.

Discussing the timing of talks after the race, Szafnauer said that around “post-summer we should have a chat and decision” about what to do beyond this year.

“Because the season goes so late, in the old days, when we finished in October, the silly season was a bit earlier,” Szafnauer said.

“But now, yeah, we’re not going to December, but not far off. That’s good timing.”

Asked if there was anything that would lend Alpine to not keeping Alonso, Szafnauer replied: “I haven’t thought of it, but it’s a good question.

“He’s driving brilliantly and qualifies well, races well. That’s what it’s really about. But let’s think about that.”

Read Also:
shares
comments

Related video

Vettel "felt like a 5-year-old again" driving Mansell’s 1992 Williams F1 car

Marko: Red Bull hired psychologist to help "problem child" Tsunoda

Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out

Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
British GP
GP Racing

Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out

How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation

How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
Japanese GP
GP Racing

How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation

Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge

Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
GP Racing

Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge

Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Jonathan Noble

Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius

 The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Alex Kalinauckas

The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP The signs that suggest an immediate Red Bull resurgence in F1's Japanese GP

The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake

The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake The lessons Russell can take from his "two-centimetre" Singapore F1 mistake

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Singapore Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak

The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak

Prime
Prime
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak The Singapore secrets that helped Sainz end Verstappen's F1 winning streak

Subscribe