Alonso viewed as a 'real-life Superman' by key ally

Fernando Alonso has been declared a real-life Superman whose F1 career shows no sign of ending according to a close ally who knows him best.

Alonso continues to defy logic by continuing in F1, signing a contract extension with Aston Martin earlier this year that will take him past his 45th birthday.

Fellow Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa, currently working at Aston Martin as an ambassador, has been fortunate to work, drive and train with the 42-year-old for many years, and remains amazed at how Alonso keeps himself in shape.

"The guy has taken care of himself all his life," said De la Rosa, speaking to RacingNews365. "His life has been motor racing. He's been sleeping, eating, living for motor racing, and that's what makes a difference.

"You don't get to 40 in Formula 1 if you haven't been taking care of yourself to the limit, and Fernando has.

"The fact he is almost 43, and will be 45 when his new contract expires - and he's still talking about maybe a future extension - I think says it all."

He added: 'I've known him from his karting days, and I don't see an end. And then, he's one of those characters that if at any point in his career, he sees that he's dropping in performance, he will immediately want to stop.

"We are lucky that Fernando is at an age where he's not looking just for himself, he's looking for the benefit of the team, and this is what really impresses me about Fernando."

De la Rosa, now 53, competed in F1 for the now-defunct HRT when he was 41 in 2012. For the following two years, he was a test driver with Ferrari.

Asked by Alonso what faculties started diminishing when he turned 40, De la Rosa remarked: "I said to him, 'Well, the first thing you will lose is the eyesight'. I started thinking about using contact lenses in races, and stuff like that.

"I didn't feel I was losing any speed or reaction times, but I said, 'This was my first alarm', that I have to take care of my eyesight.

"He told me he did a check the other day, and he said, 'I'm above 100 percent'. His father doesn't wear glasses, so maybe this guy is Superman."