Fernando Alonso has revealed that he has been racing with a shoulder injury, exacerbated by the challenges of driving the 2024 Aston Martin.
After crossing the finish line in the final race of the season, the 43-year-old Spaniard pulled down his overalls in the Abu Dhabi paddock, exposing pink athletic tape on his shoulder.
When asked if the season had been particularly gruelling, Alonso said: "It depends a bit on what car you had.
"If you had a McLaren, a Ferrari or a Mercedes, it's much less tough because the car doesn't jump, the car is fast. And if you have our car, you injure your shoulder and have an injured shoulder for six races."
Alonso reportedly aggravated the injury on Brazil's bumpy new track surface, where he told the team he was close to retiring from the race due to the pain.
"Well, you take a pill for the pain and go again," Alonso remarked.
He dismissed any suggestion that his age was a factor in dealing with injuries. "And it has nothing to do with age. When I'm physically unwell, people immediately think 'well, he's 43'. But another time, parc ferme was like The Walking Dead and I was fine, much more fit than them."
Alonso added that the design of the 2024 Aston Martin made it particularly punishing to drive. "It's a bit about the small injuries you get, especially if the car doesn't allow you to sit peacefully in your seat."
Off the track, Aston Martin has made significant investments in its facilities and engineering team, including recruiting Adrian Newey from Red Bull. However, Alonso has been openly critical of the car's on-track performance, frequently calling it one of the slowest on the grid.
"I don't need more confidence," Alonso said about the team's development efforts. "I know that when I have a normal car, I will be as high up as possible.
"We've known for a few months now what we've done wrong this year. Now we have to apply those lessons to next year's car."
Looking ahead, Alonso sees 2026 as a major milestone for many teams but predicts a challenging road in the meantime.
"2026 is still the big news for many teams, apart from McLaren and Ferrari, who have superior cars. It will be difficult to close those gaps for everyone. I think the rest of us have few options for 2025. We have to think a little bit further ahead."
He highlighted the competitiveness of other midfield teams in Abu Dhabi. "Even today, Williams was far superior to us, Haas was in another category, Alpine - another category. RB should have been in front of us too. So we were only better than Sauber."
Despite the physical and competitive challenges, Alonso remains highly motivated.
"I always give my all, even in these last races where we did not have any big objectives at the end.
"It seems that from the outside they are always waiting for me to get older, but that day never comes for now. When I start 14th, I think I will finish in the points. When I start eighth, I think I will finish on the podium. I am always hungry."
Reflecting on the demands of the longest season in Formula 1 history, Alonso noted the toll of an intense travel schedule and his plans to adjust for 2025.
"We've all learned lessons this year about how to travel," he said. "Like this triple of Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, one place to another, and then an event in Saudi Arabia between the races.
"Next year I will try to go home even if it is for 48 or 72 hours. So, small adjustments to arrive in better shape next year."
