"I don't feel it is that time yet," says two-time world champion, Fernando Alonso.

For as long as many of us can remember it didn't seem that Riccardo Patrese's record of 256 grand prix starts would ever be broken. Thankfully, the shadow of death that had haunted the sport for decades had all but passed, but even so 256 seemed a colossal number.

However, currently ten drivers have eclipsed the Italian's record, not only due to the much-improved safety but the sheer number of races each season. While Patrese's F1 career covered 17 seasons, with 24 races a year this could now be achieved in just over ten.

Top of the standings is Fernando Alonso, who has 428 starts to his name, and the Spaniard intends to add a few more.

"I love what I do," he told the official channel of the Automobile Club Monaco at the weekend. "I love racing.

"I did my first race when I was three years old, and I am 44, so 41 years of my life I have been behind a steering wheel," he continued, as the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique played out in the background. "So, the moment I have to stop racing, it will be very hard decision and difficult to accept.

"Time will tell, I will feel it," he admitted. "At the moment, I don't feel it is that time yet. I feel competitive, I feel motivated, I feel happy when I drive. So, yeah, hopefully not the last season."

It was hoped that were 2026 to be his final season in F1 he would go out on a high, a real possibility given that his car is designed by Adrian Newey and powered by Honda, but seemingly it is not to be.

The Spaniard had previously said that he would most likely quit F1 once he had helped turn the Aston Martin into a winner, so perhaps another season (or two?) is on the cards.

His starts and overtakes this year have shown that he has lost none of his skills, none of his guile, and let's not forget that those 428 starts are separate from the time he took out of F1 to pursue his WEC and IndyCar dreams.

Let's hope that Honda and Aston Martin can get their acts together and give the Spaniard a car worthy of him.