Charles Leclerc has shown a moderate response to Fernando Alonso's decision to continue his Formula 1 career despite nearing the age of 43.
Pedro de la Rosa, Alonso's long-standing friend and a team ambassador at Aston Martin, fully supports Alonso's choice. "I am very happy about Alonso's renewal," he was reported by Marca. "It is great for Formula 1. Let's not forget that Fernando was thinking about retiring."
Looking ahead, Alonso is likely to keep racing until at least the end of next year, and possibly even 2026 - and beyond. "Aston Martin is committing to a driver who is (almost) 43-years-old. Because they don't care about age - only performance," de la Rosa stated.
"I think he will still be competing at 45," he added. "I mean, this is Fangio levels of commitment and experience."
Charles Leclerc, a 26-year-old Ferrari driver, also recently signed a lengthy contract extension. However, he expressed to Italian media that he doubts he will remain in Formula 1 as long as Alonso. "Fernando is one of the most talented drivers on the grid and he deserves his place in Formula 1," Leclerc mentioned. "But there are so many young people who also deserve a place. It's not easy to find the balance."
"Most likely, I will not be here until 43 years of age, as much as I would like to. I want to try other categories, definitely including Le Mans," he concluded.
