Fernando Alonso is heading into the upcoming Formula 1 season with a new approach, having edged towards vegetarianism over the winter break, a change he believes has prepared him more than ever.
Despite being the oldest driver on the grid at 42, Alonso is widely considered a strong candidate to fill the spot at Mercedes next year, left by the Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton. His contract with Aston Martin is set to expire at the end of this year.
In his preparation for what promises to be a demanding season, Alonso shared with AS newspaper, “I’m doing everything in my life, and everything in the last months, to prepare better than ever for this very long season and to be better than ever if I want to continue competing.”
He emphasized the importance of self-preparation for any future commitments, stating, “If I’m going to commit to a project in the future, whether it’s for a year or more, I have to prepare myself for it first.”
This off-season marks the first time Alonso has integrated nutritionists into his training regimen, moving his diet “towards the vegetarian route, although it is not completely strict”. He notes that this dietary adjustment has allowed him to “extract more energy from the food I eat and from the body’s reserves, and thus have better endurance.”
According to Alonso, the annual training assessments conducted in the altitude of the Italian Alps indicate that his muscular fitness has returned to “maximum levels” not seen since his younger years.
“We have tried to gain muscle to compensate for the age factor and without losing reaction capacity or resistance in cardio,” Alonso explained, celebrating the “surprising results, very positive” of his efforts. He added, “I have trained more calmly and for more time.”
This period also afforded Alonso the opportunity to focus more on his physical condition than in previous years. “In recent years I had marketing activities, I changed teams, I had to do many things at the factory. This time I have had time for myself, driving other cars, and this has helped me to reach the pre-season in the best state of my life.”
The dedication to his fitness and diet has motivated Alonso to continue in F1, though he is mindful of the sacrifices required, saying, “That encourages me to continue (in F1), but I am aware of the sacrifices I make when I give 100 percent and I also have other curiosities in life that I want to do in the future.”
Lance Stroll, Alonso’s teammate, has taken a more cautious approach to the preseason after a cycling crash last year resulted in broken wrists. Stroll humorously recounted to Le Journal de Montreal, “My apartment is full of pillows and I’m not allowed to leave it,” but assured, “I still have the right to run, so I run and I watch where I put my feet. I don’t want to twist an ankle. Just a straight stride,” showing a light-hearted take on his recovery and preparation for the season.
