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Fernando Alonso Abruptly Ends F1 Media Conference After…

Fernando Alonso left the media room with an unexpected final message ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, bringing his press conference to a sudden end after making a striking comment about his future in Formula 1.

The two-time world champion arrived at Monza in a relatively subdued mood despite Aston Martin recording its best result of the season at the Dutch Grand Prix. Alonso finished ninth at Zandvoort, giving the Silverstone-based team a much-needed boost after a difficult campaign.

However, the Spaniard remains realistic about Aston Martin’s chances at Monza. The circuit is famous for its long straights and high-speed corners, areas that could expose one of the team’s biggest weaknesses — its Honda power unit.

Alonso still concerned about Honda progress

Discussing Aston Martin’s recent development package, Alonso acknowledged that the team has made encouraging progress in the corners but admitted there is still plenty of work to do.

He explained that the developments introduced since the Hungarian Grand Prix had moved the car in a positive direction, particularly in terms of cornering performance.

However, Alonso was far less convinced by the gains from the engine side.

He suggested that the Dutch Grand Prix had not provided enough evidence of a significant power improvement, with the car’s handling making it difficult to properly judge the additional performance.

Monza, with its long straights and heavy emphasis on power, should provide a much clearer indication of where Honda currently stands.

For Alonso, the message is simple: Aston Martin needs to improve both its chassis and engine if it wants to become a serious contender in the future.

Monza could be a difficult weekend

Alonso also warned that Monza may be one of Aston Martin’s most challenging circuits this season.

While the Spaniard admitted he could be being overly pessimistic, he expects the Italian Grand Prix to test the team heavily.

He also identified Baku and Las Vegas as circuits that could present similar difficulties because of their demanding characteristics.

Despite those concerns, Alonso insists that his motivation to continue racing remains strong.

His future with Aston Martin is still not completely settled, with the team yet to officially confirm its plans for the 2027 season. Aston Martin boss Mike Krack has previously suggested there is no immediate rush to make a decision.

But when Alonso was asked about his motivation and how long he could continue in Formula 1, his response appeared to bring the media session to an unexpected conclusion.

“I can maintain the motivation until I’m 80 years old,” Alonso said.

According to F1 journalist Jorge Peiro, Alonso then stood up, put on his cap and effectively ended the press conference with that remark.

It was a typically Alonso-like exit — brief, confident and just mysterious enough to leave everyone wondering what comes next.

For now, the 44-year-old remains focused on Aston Martin’s fight at Monza, but his latest comments have once again put the spotlight on the question of how much longer one of F1’s most experienced drivers intends to remain on the grid.