Sainz JR: “Alonso will not retire, he is a fighter”

Who said that friendship in Formula 1 does not exist? Examples of this are Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz JR. The two Spanish drivers, who race for McLaren and Toro Rosso respectively, have known each other for some time, also thanks to their common interests and acquaintances and the fact that the 20-year-old's father, Carlos Sainz, Spanish rally driver and two-time World Champion, is a great friend of Fernando Alonso.

During an exclusive interview given to AS colleagues, the son of art spoke about the complex moment that his compatriot is experiencing in Woking and regarding the post-Suzuka speculation on Fernando Alonso's possible early retirement from Formula 1: “I'm sure he will be on the grid again next season. He will carry forward the decision he made last year – commented Sainz JR – Everything cannot always be possible go well at the first but Fernando will continue to fight."

But we can't forget that the 2015 season didn't exactly go that way what they hoped for the driver from Oviedo and the Woking team: “The truth is that this year has turned out to be a real disaster for Alonso, for McLaren and for Honda but no need to throw in the towel. Fernando is a fighter, a samurai. At the moment they cannot end up further behind than they are in, they can only progress."

Eleonora Ottonello