…the new relationship with Austria:

It feels like half a big race at home here, I’ve been spending a lot of time in Austria lately with my girlfriend (TV presenter Andrea Schlager, note). Winter in Austria really made me stronger. As a Spaniard, I was not used to these temperatures. I like it better here in the summer with all these colors.

… driving pleasure:

In the early 2000s, it was a lot more fun with V10 engines and plenty of power. Plus, the cars were about 200kg lighter than they are now, and we had less fuel on board. Then there was the sound. When I got to the track and heard the noise of the hotel… it was part of the DNA of Formula 1.

… his age:

If you keep motivation high, age is a plus. You make a lot of mistakes in your career, but you rarely repeat them. I drove over 92,000 km in the race, plus on Friday and Saturday and before the tests too. It is good to have this experience. But Formula 1 sucks all the energy out of your body. This is what happened to me in 2018. I was empty mentally and physically. I had to take a break and try other things.

… win over:

I miss winning (Alonso won 32 races, note)I also miss the podium fight. Because at the moment, only Perez, Verstappen, Leclerc and Sainz can win races. Now I’m racing myself, it’s about constantly improving myself.

… his self-perception:

I rode last year at a decent level. But this year I can follow my instinct again, I’m actually one hundred percent showing, maybe more than expected. This has always been my forte. I feel like I’ve reached my highest level again and that makes me feel very proud.