The end of Fernando Alonso‘s career in Formula 1 is drawing ever closer, which is somewhat inevitable given that he has just turned 44. But we’re not going to be the ones to retire the Asturian, far from it. He still has plenty of gas left in the tank and still has a chance of winning his third title before he says goodbye. But it’s natural to think about what will come next in Spanish motor racing, and with all due respect to Carlos Sainz, things are looking pretty good.
Fernando Alonso and his final stretch
As we mentioned, the end of Fernando Alonso‘s career is drawing ever closer. The Asturian has just turned 44, and next year he will continue with Aston Martin, but beyond 2026, it is anyone’s guess at this point. His performance, his results next year, and his motivation (and that of the team) will set the course.
For the time being, we will continue to have a Spanish presence in F1 for some time to come, because Carlos Sainz is one of the most highly rated drivers on the grid and still has a few years left in the top flight of world motor racing. And let’s not forget that his goal is to win the F1 World Championship, although we know that this does not depend solely on the driver’s skills, as other factors also play a role.
Meanwhile, Spanish motorsport is looking further down the ladder, to the lower categories, to the Spanish drivers who may have a chance to represent us in the Grand Prix in the coming years, something that seems commonplace today, but which is extremely difficult, because being chosen from among the 20 drivers to drive an F1 car (there will be 22 next year) is within the reach of very few. There are two names that are generating hope: Pepe Martí and Mari Boya.
The promising future of motor racing in Spain
Both Pepe Martí and Mari Boya were born in 2005 and have been dominating karting in Spain since they were children. In the case of Pepe Martí, his talent is shining through in Formula 3, where he has already tasted podium finishes and achieved some highly commendable victories. At the moment, he couldn’t be in a better place to continue his progress, in the Red Bull Junior Team, one of the teams that is most committed to talent and responsible for training some of today’s greatest drivers, with Max Verstappen as the greatest example. Everything points to him making the definitive leap to Formula 2 next season, where he will be able to get even closer to his goal of becoming an F1 driver.
Mari Boya is also doing well in her career as a young driver. In recent months, she has become Aston Martin’s first signing, being chosen as the first driver for its new academy. She stands out for her maturity and, above all, the speed she shows behind the wheel of single-seaters. Like Pepe Martí, he is one of the drivers who is shining in Formula 3, because in addition to his qualities, he has demonstrated intelligence in managing tires and optimizing strategies on the track.
A tough road to F1
Pepe Martí and Mari Boya are demonstrating their high level in the lower categories of motorsport, but reaching F1 is a big step up. Every year, many drivers have to find a new career in another discipline, because reaching the top is only possible for a privileged few. For now, there are reasons to be optimistic, but F1 has proven to be a ruthless world, with many interests at stake, where everything can change in a matter of hours.
For now, we can continue to enjoy Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz, but the most promising future for motor racing in our country lies with Pepe Martí and Mari Boya, who still have a long road ahead of them if they want to become F1 drivers.