Verstappen: It's the body, not age, that hinders F1 drivers.

      Max Verstappen notes that Fernando Alonso has demonstrated that age alone doesn’t make a Formula 1 driver slower, although the physical demands of the cars tend to increase. During a conversation with Viaplay, the four-time world champion shared a recent discussion with 44-year-old Alonso on a flight to Qatar late in the season. "I was flying to Qatar with Fernando and we talked about it," Verstappen recounted. "For me, it’s intriguing to learn - he’s 44! So I asked him something like, ‘What are your thoughts on that?’ I thought it would be interesting to ask."

      Verstappen mentioned that Alonso asserted that speed doesn’t merely fade with age. "It’s more about physical discomfort," Verstappen clarified. "You encounter more issues, and these cars aren’t the easiest to handle. As you get older, you feel these effects more acutely. Your shoulders, your back, your neck - it requires a lot more effort when you're older."

      Nonetheless, Alonso showed few signs of slowing after the Abu Dhabi season finale, suggesting he wouldn’t even drive a kart until January. However, reports from Spanish media indicate a different story. Just ten days post his last Formula 1 race of the season, Alonso was back on track at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, piloting a 2019 Aston Martin Vantage DTM car and giving "hot laps" to guests and journalists. He then participated in the annual A14 Management camp, where he took a motocross car to provide an off-road lesson to his young drivers.