Fernando Alonso Is in His Own Lane

You stepped away from Formula 1 in 2018 before returning. Looking back, how has the Fernando Alonso of that period changed? 

I would say I’m a better and more complete driver now because of all the experiences I have had. When I stepped away from Formula 1, I wanted to try different challenges in motorsport and I learnt a lot from racing in different categories. It takes you out of your comfort zone. I also know that as long as I feel fast, motivated and happy when I drive, I want to keep racing.

During your time away from Formula 1, you explored other forms of racing. Did that experience change your relationship with the sport? 

I think it reaffirmed how much I love racing and competing. I won at Le Mans, Daytona, the WEC and then finished the Indy500 and the Dakar, they are all very different challenges. 

You have to learn and adapt very quickly and I enjoyed this process. Racing in different categories also made me a more complete driver. Formula 1 has been the biggest part of my career, but I love motorsport and I enjoyed pushing myself outside of what I already knew.

Every athlete has a moment when they realise they have become the person they set out to be. Was there such a moment for you, either on or off the track?

I don’t think there has been one particular moment. Winning my first World Championship was obviously very special because it was something I had dreamed about since I was young. But when you are racing, you are always focused on what is next and how you can improve. I don’t think too much about what I have already achieved. I still wake up wanting to compete, wanting to win and wanting to push myself, so the focus is always on the next challenge.

With 32 Grand Prix victories to your name, you’ve experienced the highs and lows of winning at the highest level. What is something about success that you wish you had understood earlier in your career?

Probably to enjoy the moment more. When you are younger, everything moves very quickly and you are always thinking about the next race or the next result. I look back at the years when I won the Championships and I don’t remember everything as well as I would like. You realise with experience how difficult it is to win in Formula 1. If I could go back, I would tell myself to enjoy those moments a little more.

When you look at the next generation of drivers, what is one lesson you hope they learn about winning that goes beyond simply being the fastest?

Being fast is important, but there is much more that goes into winning in Formula 1. You need to work with the team, give good feedback and build trust with the people around you. There will also be difficult moments and you have to keep learning and improving. I think enjoying what you do is important too. It is a long season and you need the motivation and discipline to keep pushing through it.

You won the inaugural Singapore Grand Prix in 2008, then returned to the top step of the podium in 2010. Nearly two decades later, what do those victories mean to you, and has your relationship with Singapore changed over the years?

Singapore is always a special race and I have some good memories here. Winning twice is obviously part of that. It is one of the most challenging races physically because of the heat and humidity, and as a street circuit you need to be fully concentrated throughout the race. The event has changed a lot since we first came here, but the atmosphere of racing at night is still unique and there is always a good energy around the circuit and the city.

As a BOSS ambassador, you embody the brand’s philosophy of Be Your Own BOSS. What does that mean to you personally, particularly in a sport where so much of your career is shaped by external expectations?

For me, it is about confidence and being comfortable with who you are. In Formula 1, there are always expectations and everything is measured by results, but you have to focus on your own performance and what you can control. 

BOSS champions confidence through personal style. What does confidence look like?

Confidence comes from knowing what works for you and being comfortable with your choices. Experience helps with this, both in racing and away from the track. With my personal style, I tend to prefer pieces that are simple, well fitted and comfortable.

Additional reporting: Ephrem Bonafe

Photography: Stefan Khoo
Styling: Kevin Tew
Grooming: Linda Lee
Photographer’s Assistant: Yann
Stylist’s Assistant:Crystal Lim