Having signed a two-year deal with Aston Martin for 2023 and 2024, Fernando Alonso is well on his way to competing in a record-shattering 400 Grand Prix, with the Spaniard set to beat the current record of 349 GP starts at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.
The 41-year-old is just one race away from going beyond Kimi Raikkonen’s record of having started 349 GPs, the most currently by any driver.
Alonso matched this record at the recent Italian Grand Prix, where he unfortunately retired from the race.
Raikkonen actually entered 353 GPs, a record which Alonso will match at Singapore and eclipse at Suzuka.
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The Alpine driver looks set to break this record by some margin, considering Alonso still has the remainder of this season and the following two years in the championship.
The double World Champion has made it known that he aims to reach 400 GP starts, something he is set to achieve whilst driving for Aston Martin in 2024.
Whether the Spanish driver opts to then retire from the sport is yet to be seen; however, it’s fair to say it’s extremely unlikely he’ll reach 500 GP starts!
Should Alonso compete in all of the remaining races this season, he’ll end the season on 355 GP starts.
With 24 races scheduled for 2023, and with there likely to be at least the same number in 2024, then Alonso should have surpassed 400 GP starts towards the end of 2024.
The Spaniard is well aware of the stats and is insistent that he “will reach 400 [starts] for sure’.
“I know the number [of starts] because every weekend, we keep repeating but I’m not into this so much,” he explained to the media.
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“I’m happy to be in Formula 1 for many years and with the two more [years] coming or however long I will be in Formula 1, I will reach 400 for sure.
“That’s a big number and it shows my passion for the sport and my discipline to perform at the highest level.
“If you are not performing, the teams will not give you 400 Grands Prix.”