
When the sport's CEO publicly appeals for a driver to stay, it tells you something about how F1 values its established names — not just for performance, but for the audience they carry. Alonso at 43 remains one of the few figures who can fill a grandstand on his name alone, and Domenicali's comments reflect an awareness that star power is a commercial asset, not just a sporting one. The framing of 'heroes' is deliberate: F1 knows its growth depends on personalities as much as racing, and losing Alonso would leave a gap that no incoming driver can immediately fill. Whether Alonso himself sees a competitive reason to continue is a separate question, and that's ultimately the one that matters most.
"It's a fact that we need heroes..."