The president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Mohammed ben Sulayem, referred to the future of Fernando Alonso and issued a particular recommendation to the Spanish driver. In his opinion, the Spaniard should end his career in Formula 1 after once again achieving great success.
Ben Sulayem made it clear that he does not want Alonso to abandon the competition forced by poor results. The manager believes that the two-time world champion should have the opportunity to say goodbye to F1 on his own terms and after climbing back to the top.
At 45 years old, Alonso is going through a difficult season with Aston Martin. The Spaniard currently occupies nineteenth position in the championship, with just three points, in a season in which the car’s performance has not lived up to expectations.
Ben Sulayem defends the future of Fernando Alonso
The FIA president assured that, if Alonso was thinking of retiring due to the results obtained with Aston Martin, he would try to convince him to change his mind. For Ben Sulayem, the importance of the Spaniard for Formula 1 goes far beyond his sporting results.
The leader highlighted his status as a champion, but also his credibility, intelligence and personality. He believes that Alonso still has a lot to contribute to the sport and that a figure of his size should not leave the stage hastily.
Ben Sulayem also explained that he was able to talk with Alonso during the Italian Grand Prix, held last weekend in Monza. There he found the Asturian driver especially affected by the situation at Aston Martin and by his results in the championship.
The president of the FIA said that he conveyed his willingness to help and asked him to explain what the organization could do to support him. According to his story, after that conversation a meeting took place to analyze the situation and offer support to the pilot.
Aston Martin seeks to regain competitiveness
Alonso’s concern is also related to Aston Martin’s performance. Ben Sulayem said that he met with the head of the team and received the guarantee that the team will make changes to try to regain competitiveness.
The objective is for Aston Martin to improve its performance and offer Alonso a car capable of fighting for more important positions. The Spaniard, world champion in 2005 and 2006, continues to pursue a new victory that will allow him to close his sporting career on a high note.
Ben Sulayem avoided predicting who will win the Spanish Grand Prix, although he acknowledged that it would be especially positive for the fans if one of the two Spanish drivers, Alonso or Carlos Sainz, achieved victory in Madrid.
The new Madrid Grand Prix
The president of the FIA also highlighted the characteristics of the new Madrid circuit. The semi-urban route, which includes the spectacular La Monumental curve, 500 meters long and with a bank of 24%, represents a new challenge for the teams and drivers.
Ben Sulayem believes that the Madrid Grand Prix can become a reference point within the Formula 1 calendar. The configuration of the circuit will force the teams to carefully study their strategies, from the choice of tires to the right moment to make changes.
While Alonso faces one of the most complicated seasons of his recent time in F1, the FIA president keeps the door open to a different farewell. His wish is that the Spanish driver can once again achieve great success before deciding when to put an end to a historic career.
