Fernando Alonso Retirement Rumors: Did the Veteran F1 Driver Really Start Them?
Unpacking the Speculation Surrounding Alonso's Future and the Surprising Insights from Red Bull's Helmut Marko
In a rather surprising twist to the tale about Fernando Alonso’s retirement rumors that frustrated the Aston Martin driver to the point that he threatened the media responsible with “consequences,” Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, known for his casual remarks, said he can “well imagine” it was Fernando Alonso who started the rumors.
When Sergio Perez scored a DNF in the Mexican Grand Prix as a result of his contact with Charles Leclerc, rumors spread quickly on social media after Spanish journalist Albert Fabrega suggested that a major change was on the horizon.
He wrote on social media platform X, “I don’t want to believe the rumour that they have told me now in the paddock. No.” A few days later, he clarified that the post had “nothing to do with driver exchanges between teams, or withdrawals.”
But the rumor mill reached greater heights, suggesting that Alonso would take Perez’s Red Bull seat next season. Not only that, a few rumors even hinted that the 42-year-old’s retirement from F1 was coming by the end of this season.
Clearly, Alonso was annoyed with the rumors that led him to warn the ones responsible. During a media session ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend, he told journalist Julianne Cerasoli:
“I respect those of you who have been here for years, are professionals, do your job.
“These rumours are coming from people who are not in this room, who are just doing this for fun. But there are consequences.”
Helmut Marko’s Startling Conclusion However, Marko thinks Alonso could’ve started the rumors “to create a mood” as a result of his “disappointing” run with Aston Martin lately. He told F1-Insider.com:
“As for the rumours about Alonso: I can well imagine that Alonso spread them himself because his results with Aston Martin have been very disappointing recently after the brilliant start to the season.
“It wouldn’t be the first time that he used his home media to create a mood.
“Once again and for the record: We only have sporting goals in mind that we will keep ourselves busy with until the last race in Abu Dhabi. And they are, we want to win all the races and make it clear to Perez that he is runner-up.”
