Fernando Alonso Reacts After Extending His F1 Stay With Alpine for 2022

The most awaited news is finally here! Fernando Alonso has extended his contract with the Alpine F1 team after teasing the encrypted message on Wednesday hinting a ‘BIG NEWS’ on Twitter along with his teammate, Esteban Ocon.

The duo even caused a banter through code language, but the fans managed to decrypt what the messages were. The only announcement left to arrive from Alpine is their complete line-up for the 2022 season. Ocon’s future is safe until 2024. And, well, so is Alonso’s now.

The announcement was initially scheduled for Wednesday. However, with the Belgian Grand Prix around the corner, Alpine chose to push their announcement by a day and unveil their complete 2021 line-up on Thursday.

Alonso’s new contract with Alpine

The Spaniard’s existing contract was technically set to expire by the end of 2021, as he only had the option of extending his stay by another season into 2022.

Hence, it initially looked like the 2-time world champion, already aged 40, would give up on his career after setting up a strong base for the French outfit amidst the oncoming new F1 era.

.@Alo_Oficial Alpine F1 Team

Continuing the journey for 2022. Read the full announcement below #Alonso2022 #BelgianGP

— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) August 26, 2021

However, he has certainly proven that age is just a number, as the Spaniard is enjoying the form of his life at the moment. So, why let it go to waste? Instead, Alonso is happy to continue until the end of 2022 with an option to extend the contract by another year.

Will Fernando Alonso retire after 2022?

Unless Alonso struggles from a sudden loss of performance and sees himself downgrading from others, he isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon. Earlier in June, Alonso affirmed that he would be staying with Ocon until the end of 2024.

“I’ll be here, for sure…as his team-mate,” he said, according to Planet F1. “Whenever I close my visor, for me at least, I want to be competitive. And I like to do things right. I like to maintain a high level of discipline and commitment.”

Formula One F1 – Hungarian Grand Prix – Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary – August 1, 2021 Alpine’s Esteban Ocon celebrates with teammate Fernando Alonso after winning the race Pool via REUTERS/Florion Goga

Also, Alonso may have had a slow start to the 2021 F1 season, which consequently led to concerns over his future. However, as weeks passed by, the real face of Alonso started to show up.

The typical highly defensive Alonso came to life at Hungaroring prior to the summer break. Despite holding onto a much slower car and on much older tires, the Spaniard showed immense grit against his former championship rival, Lewis Hamilton.

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