Fernando Alonso has revealed how shifting partly towards a plant-based diet contributed to his “best-ever” physical test results prior to the 2024 Formula 1 season’s start.
Except for a year on the sidelines in 2002 and a sabbatical between 2019-2020, Alonso has been competing in F1 since 2001 and is gearing up for his 21st season in the sport.
Despite having turned 42 last year, the Spaniard has continued to defy the common perception that athletes tend to be on the decline once they progress into their 30s.
Alonso was a standout performer last term, capitalising on Aston Martin’s resurgence to accrue eight podiums alongside outscoring team-mate Lance Stroll by 206 points to 74.
Although his contract with Aston Martin expires at the end of this year, Alonso has suggested that he is preparing himself to be in shape to extend his period in the series.
“I feel good, I feel as I said at the beginning fitter than ever,” he told selected media including Motorsport Week ahead of the launch of Aston Martin’s 2024 F1 car.
“The numbers that we achieve in all the physical tests that we do every season, they were the best ever this year. I was training a little bit different this year.
“I also added a nutritionist to the team which changed a bit my way of seeing things and preparing the body.
“Everything that I do in life, and everything that I did in the last few months were just to prepare myself better than ever for a very long season, and to prepare myself in case I want to keep driving, being better than ever.
“So if I commit to a project in the future, for the next year or next few years, I need to be first ready myself to commit to that.
“I will not drive a few more years in Formula 1 just to drive and to have fun. I’m not that kind of driver, I’m not that kind of person. If I want to keep driving, it’s because I know, starting from myself, that I can give 200% to the team, on and off track. Simulator work, marketing work, delivering the results on track.
“I’m preparing for that in the eventuality I want to keep racing, and if I want to keep racing, let’s see what the options are.”
The addition of a nutritionist has seen Alonso evolve into trialling a plant-based diet, something which seven-time Lewis Hamilton had adapted to a long time ago.
Alonso added: “On the nutritionist, I don’t know, there are many things that they know for sure, in terms of explaining better changes.
“Maybe more into a plant-based diet, or more or less, say that route. Maybe not completely strict, but into that route, try to find a little bit more energy from the food that you eat and a little bit more from your reserve as well in your body and try to have more endurance from there.”
Those positive test results have fuelled Alonso’s conviction that he could continue racing in F1 until he’s 50, but he admits that the gruelling schedule could prevent that.
When asked if he had an age in mind to continue racing, Alonso replied: “The number for the future and keep racing, I don’t know.
“A few years ago, I would say that maybe 42 or 41 was the limit. Now, after I saw myself last year, motivated and performing well, I was thinking maybe that I can keep racing a few more years. Now this winter, I’ve been exceeding a little bit the expectations in terms of all the physical tests and everything that I did.
“So I would say that if you are motivated and if you want to commit, you can drive maybe until 48 or 49 or whatever, even 50.
“But at the same time, you have to give up everything in life. Formula 1 needs total dedication.
“This is my 24th season or whatever in F1, and I gave my life for 24 years to this sport, which I’m happy, and I’m OK with that. I can keep doing for a few more years, but I don’t know if I will be racing until 50, with such a demanding calendar and things like that. Not for the ability, but because there are other things in life that I’m curious.”
With a record-breaking 24-race calendar to come this season, Alonso believes the drivers will also have to tactically plan their schedules to avoid the threat of burnout.
“I think we will have to travel more efficient; we have to spend the right time in the right places,” he explained.
“I think every one of us is different, but in my case, for this calendar, I will try to be a little bit less time in the long races, in that city, in that race track. So Japan, Australia, China, I will try to fight jet lag in a different way by not going super early into that country, because that keeps accumulating days away from home, and the energy and the batteries, they keep draining throughout the season.
“I think the second will be food. I think the food routine will keep the energy for longer, if you are in control of that. And yeah, that will be the two things I will try to deal with this year with the long calendar.”
