Alonso: 'I've sacrificed a lot for F1, but am enjoying it more than ever'

Fernando Alonso has declared he is "enjoying Formula 1 more thanever" as he admitted that Grand Prix racing had made him"sacrifice" a lot. Alonso has raced in F1 since 2001, aside from atwo-year break in 2019-20, and is set to reach 400 Grand Prixstarts at the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. The two-time World Championswitched teams for the seventh time in his career at the start ofthe 2023 season, joining Aston Martin, with whom he enjoyed hisbest season of the turbo hybrid era, and overall since 2013. Fourthin the standings was Alonso's best since runner-up to SebastianVettel in 2013, with his eight podiums unexpected as the teamcontinues to build up from midfield runners. Despite the success,Alonso has detailed the effects of over two decades in Formula 1has had him on and what he has sacrficed. "You make sacrifices, andsometimes you're aware of those when you're making them andsometimes you don't realise until five years later," Alonsoexplained. "That might be things you'd like to do, or family andfriends you don't see as often as you would like. "I havesacrificed a lot for F1, but I have no regrets. "I'm a veryfamily-oriented person. I love to spend time with my family. Atthis time of my life, I thought I'd already have a family and kids,all these kinds of things, and I found myself at 42 without anykids yet. "At the same time, I'm doing what I love to do. I'm doingwhat I'm the best at doing – and I've never tried anything otherthan motorsport. So, when I look in the mirror in the morning, I'mhappy with who I am and what I'm doing. "I feel like I'm enjoyingit maybe more than ever, and I go to the races with a differentspirit. A lot of that is to do with the team. "It's very young,very enthusiastic, and there's a lot of good energy in the garageand back at Silverstone. The new campus provides a lot ofmotivation – it's a real statement about the ambition of the team."Also, thanks to my experience, I know what is important and whatis less important, and I know where to expend my energy and whereto save it. "It's important to be able to focus on performance onSunday but also to ensure there is a good team spirit and goodmorale in the garage. I'm enjoying every part of the job."