Domenicali, who worked with Alonso during the Spaniard’s time at Ferrari, said he wanted to see the two-time world champion continue in F1 for much longer.
“I suffer a lot for Alonso, because I have a lot of respect for him and I know he’s fantastic,” Domenicali told Spanish publication AS.
“But I know that he is a resilient person.
“He will have the opportunity, I hope, if they give him a good car to show the talent he has.
“His mentality is one of fearless commitment, at all levels. He needs the right project.
“I hope he will be here and not just for a year, for a long time.”
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Domenicali said F1 still benefited from having drivers of Alonso’s stature on the grid.
“It’s a fact that we need heroes. That’s why I expect Fernando to stay for a long time, with the right car he’s still very strong,” he added.
Asked what F1 would lose if Alonso retired, Domenicali made clear he was not ready to consider that possibility.
“It’s not the time to talk about that because I want to see him here for a long time,” he said.
The comments come after Alonso used the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix to acknowledge the significance of what could be his final F1 appearance at the venue.
“Sure. It’s going to be a special weekend, probably my last Barcelona race in Formula 1,” Alonso said.
“So, I want to say thanks to everyone. I will try to enjoy the weekend.
“I will not be competitive and I will not be too long in the car in qualifying, and in the race hopefully yes, but not at the pace that we all want.
“But I want everyone to still enjoy the weekend. It has been always a celebration when they come to Barcelona.
“I think it’s my 23rd Spanish Grand Prix, and all of them have been magical. And this last has to be magical as well.”
Alonso’s comments do not necessarily mean he will leave F1 at the end of 2026, with Barcelona set to drop off the calendar in 2027 before returning in 2028 as part of its rotation with Spa-Francorchamps.
However, his future remains a key talking point as Aston Martin continues to fall short of expectations despite major investment from team owner Lawrence Stroll and the arrival of Adrian Newey.
The 44-year-old is out of contract with Aston Martin at the end of the 2026 season and has indicated he will make a decision on his future after the summer break.
He has also been linked with a possible return to Alpine, where his long-time manager Flavio Briatore is now back in a senior role.
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