What's next for Fernando Alonso? © APA/afp / ANGELA WEISS

Alonso and Hamilton: Old masters at a crossroads

In the stranglehold of Singapore, the two oldest Formula 1 drivers feel the signs of the times more than ever.

02 October 2025

From: dpa/dl

Ahead of what is arguably the toughest race of the season, veteran Fernando Alonso (44) is thinking aloud about his racing retirement, while Lewis Hamilton (40), who is struggling with his sporting career, is dealing with the death of his beloved bulldog, Roscoe. The veteran duo has clinched nine world championship titles between them, but they've long been asking themselves the question: Can they achieve another victory?

Since his spectacular switch to Ferrari, Hamilton hasn't even made it onto the podium in 17 World Championship races. Aston Martin driver Alonso has been waiting for a win since May 2013. Almost exactly 20 years ago, the Spaniard ended Michael Schumacher's triumphant era with his first World Championship title, and the following year he reclaimed the Formula 1 crown. Alonso has 420 Grands Prix and more than 110.000 racing kilometers on his odometer.

Alonso hopes for rule reform

"I never thought I'd still be here 20 years after my first world championship title," says the veteran. His contract with Aston Martin is still valid for 2026. The extensive regulations with all-new cars and engines, and the help of design genius Adrian Newey, should propel Alonso to the top once again. "If things go well, then that would be a good moment to retire. I've been chasing a competitive car for many, many years. If I have that, it would be a very good end to my career," explains the 44-year-old before the night race under sauna conditions in Singapore on Sunday.

Fernando Alonso is now 44 years old. © APA / RUDY CAREZZEVOLI

And if he doesn't compete for victories next year? "Then it would be hard to give up without trying again," says Alonso. But Formula 1 history speaks against him and his former arch-rival Hamilton, who has also competed in 373 Grand Prix races.

Since 1970, only one driver over the age of 40 has won a Formula 1 race: Nigel Mansell in Australia in 1994. That was 31 years ago, too. Like the 14th-place World Championship winner, Alonso, Hamilton has often been held back this year by his underperforming company car. But for a seven-time world champion who has already lambasted himself on camera this year as "useless," fundamental issues are being questioned in his sporting slump. Is he simply no longer capable of it?

Hamilton longs for a good weekend

"You don't lose your skills overnight. Of course, a driver might slack off a bit on a fast lap. But he makes up for it with experience," counters Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who led Hamilton to six titles. The partnership with Ferrari, however, continues to seem like a misunderstanding, as the recent furore surrounding a disregarded team order in Baku demonstrated.

If mistrust arises, then it's better to let it go and go your separate ways at the end of the year," Sky expert Ralf Schumacher advises the currently hapless Hamilton. But he defiantly says: "We're overdue for a good weekend and a good result."

Lewis Hamilton is struggling to get his Ferrari up to speed. © APA/afp / PHILIPPE LOPEZ

Singapore, for Sir Lewis, is the place where he achieved arguably the best lap of his career in 2018. Many even consider his drive to pole position to be the most brilliant qualifying lap in Formula 1 history. For Alonso, Singapore will forever be associated with one of motorsport's biggest scandals. In 2008, his then-Renault teammate Nelson Piquet Jr. deliberately crashed his car on the orders of the team's management to pave the way for Alonso to win. It was a long time ago.

"The thing is, when you drive more than 400 races, there are many races with a lot of luck and many races with bad luck. But I think it all evened out," says Alonso. According to him, this is by no means the final word of his career.