Fernando Alonso has not changed one bit despite all the years he has spent racing in Formula 1, according to a former racing colleague.
Now in his 40s, the Spaniard is showing no signs of slowing down. Having completed his second spell with the Enstone-based team now branded as Alpine, he joins Aston Martin ahead of next season and has given no indication that he is considering hanging up his racing overalls.
Alonso is, and always has been, a divisive figure. His talent is unquestionable, as is his love for racing â but there have been many examples of him struggling to get along with team-mates, most recently this year with Esteban Ocon at Alpine.
While that side of his personality has attracted some criticism, former racer Pedro de la Rosa believes Alonso is "exactly the same" as when they worked together at McLaren, and does not have a bad word to say about his fellow Spaniard.
"He is ten years younger than me," de la Rosa told AS. "What amazes me about him is his smile from him in a seat fitting. His attitude, his motivation, which is exactly the same as when I first worked with him at McLaren in 2007.
"It's the same motivation as when he came to Minardi. He is a born competitor. His motivation is the same or greater than 15 years ago â that's what impresses me the most."
De la Rosa was, himself, 41 years of age when he decided to retire from racing in F1, at the end of the 2012 season. So he speaks from experience when he asserts what will eventually make Alonso want to end his own career, but does not see it happening any time soon.
He added: "I did not feel slower because the experience gave me an extra boost. I also had some more physical pain, so I stopped running and started cycling more. But they are minimal details and nothing that altered my performance. It's not like tennis or football. In motorsport, if your performance decreases, it happens at a very slow pace.
"What makes you 'click' and tells you that you should retire are the travelling and the fatigue â it is the biggest problem for someone like Fernando. But I see him so motivated that I know he will be able to continue for many more years, because he exudes the same feeling that he did when he was at Minardi 20 years ago."
