Aston Martin reveal concerns over re-signing Alonso

Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack has admitted he was unsure if his squad would be in a position to retain Fernando Alonso beyond the 2024 season.

Last week, Alonso announced he would remain in F1 into 2025 with the Aston Martin outfit having previously declared that he was mulling over potential retirement.

At 43 years of age, Alonso is the oldest driver on the grid and is set to become the first 45-year-old F1 driver in over 50 years before his contract runs out.

With the F1 race calendar expanding to 24 rounds this year, Alonso highlighted the demands that the hectic schedule has on a driver - leaving Krack to have doubts over the potential to re-sign Alonso.

“I was not convinced, Fernando was very clear,” Krack told media including RacingNews365.

“It was clear already when he joined that the calendar. The travel is draining a lot of energy, especially if you want to do things the way he does it.

“There is no 99 per cent and that is why, with the calendar like that, it takes everything out of you. I think he said it many times that there is no life [outside F1] - either you are 100 percent in it or not.”

'There is only 100 percent with Alonso'

Alonso confirmed that he spoke to rival teams before committing to Aston Martin, asserting that there were only ever “light” talks.

The two-time world champion is currently in his second season with the Silverstone-based squad after enjoying a successful opening year, bagging eight podiums.

Alonso hinted that he will continue in a role with Aston Martin beyond his F1 driving career, which remains in full swing.

“When you see how he's when you see how he's working, when he's there, who he’s interacting [with], you see that there is only 100 per cent,” Krack added.

“You understand also that when he says there is no life around that, it is true.

“And considering that, I had some concerns that he was going to say 'I want to do something else in life'.

“I was very happy to see that he loves F1 more than private life at this stage.”