At 30, Alonso has ’learned to live with’ F1

After spending the whole of his twenties in formula one, Fernando Alonso says he now understands the sport well.

"I have learned to live with it," said the double world champion and Ferrari driver, who on Friday marks his 30th birthday.

"It requires a lot from you: physically, mentally, total dedication, your time", Alonso is quoted at the Hungaroring by a French-language Agence France Presse report.

"F1 is half politics, half sport. In the karts, it’s sport only, but when you get here ... it surprises you a bit. Bothers you, too."

"You want everything to be more transparent, cleaner. But when you accept F1 it has its charm. But you do have to realise about all the political interests," he insisted.