The eternal challenge of Fernando Alonso, who turns 41 today: "I feel fresh and motivated"

• The goodbye of Vettel A new negotiating trick for Alonso

• Quick lap The 'game over', getting closer

One of the questions that has most bothered

since his return to F1 is the one that questioned his physical condition to squeeze a car weighing almost 800 kg for two hours.

This weekend, of course, he will meet her again in the mixed zone at the Hungaroring.

Among other reasons, because today the two-time world champion turns 41, a prohibitive age among elite athletes.

However, what for the rest is the end of the road, for him is just one more reason to celebrate.

There will be a party today at the Alpine

, as far as family and friends will come.

The most intimate ones will revive the memories of that August 24, 2003, when Fernando signed his first victory in F1 right here.

And the most optimistic will dream of a podium, given that the Spaniard is experiencing his best moment of the season, with seven consecutive races in the points, including fifth place at Silverstone.

"I feel fresh and motivated, looking forward to next year," said Alonso yesterday, who hopes to resolve his renewal in the coming weeks.

In talks with

and

he will have an unexpected ace up his sleeve: the interest of Aston Martin, which needs to fill the vacancy of

.

However, his priority remains Alpine.

Another record, in Singapore

"My challenge here is great. Trying to win on this comeback is not easy, because I'm not in Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, but I don't have other challenges in my head," the man from Oviedo said yesterday, after ruling out any immediate return to the World Cup. Endurance, the Dakar Rally or the Indianapolis 500.

At 41, he is still convinced that he had the last word for him in F1.

On Sunday, at Paul Ricard, Alonso became the driver with the most laps in history (18,672) and next October, in Singapore, he will break the record for the most races held, still held by

(350).

Although above any statistics, he only cares about crossing the checkered flag first.

An unattainable milestone in the 21st century for someone his age.

The last to win after quarantine was

, who won the 1994 Australian GP at the age of 41 years, three months and five days.

More recently, only Raikkonen came close, winning the 2018 US GP aged 39 years and four days.

In fact, no driver who crossed the border of 300 races managed to climb to the top of the podium again.

Not a legend like

, not two champions like

or Raikkonen, not the ever-industrious

.

"Otherwise I wouldn't have come back"

"I feel fast. If not, I wouldn't have come back", admitted Alonso after the French GP, a tremendously demanding appointment, but after which he felt ready to complete "another four more races".

Let us not forget that in this century, only

, at 41 years, nine months and one day, and Schumacher himself, at 43 years, 10 months and 22 days, exceed the longevity of the double winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Alonso's motivation, always on the lookout for new challenges, is fueled by issues that would seem trivial to others, such as arriving in Las Vegas in 2023 or the more than possible landing in South Africa.

"I feel fresh even to travel. I will arrive in Singapore on Monday because I no longer care about spending a couple of days there, but rather I enjoy it," he said yesterday.

Waiting for that historic weekend at Marina Bay, Alonso's fighting spirit will once again be evident at the Hungaroring.

A track that he always made him enjoy and where last year he was able to hold off

for 10 laps so that

could lead Alpine to glory.

To his three podiums with Ferrari (2010, 2011, 2014) you have to join the

positions in the worst circumstances with McLaren (2015-2018).

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