--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic…" description: "\"I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic - not an F1 driver\" — Fernando Alonso" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png" --- # I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic - not an F1 driver ![“I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic - not an F1 driver” quote by Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png) > “I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic - not an F1 driver” [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on an unexpected career path from mechanic to driver, highlighting how opportunities can reshape identity. **In simple terms:** Unexpected career changes happen. Key Takeaway Embrace new possibilities. Themes career identity unexpected opportunity growth Mood inspired reflective Type motivational personal growth When to use this quote - career planning - sports mentorship - personal development - adapting to change Key Concepts self‑actualization serendipity role reversal Questions to Reflect On - What hidden talents could you develop? - How do you react when your path changes? A Different Perspective May overlook the challenges of transitioning skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Mechanic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mechanic/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) ## Related quotes > [For me, it was not destiny to make it to where I am now - I thought for a long- time I would become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/for-me-it-was-not-destiny-to-make-it-to-where-i-am-now-i-thought-for/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [There are a lot of factors in the life of an F1 driver which can combine to make you believe that you are somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-hill/there-are-a-lot-of-factors-in-the-life-of-an-f1-driver-which-can/) [Damon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-hill/) > [From the five years, 1968-73, if you were an F1 driver at that time, there was a very likely chance that you would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-stewart/from-the-five-years-1968-73-if-you-were-an-f1-driver-at-that-time/) [Jackie Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-stewart/) > [It's been 23 years since the last Swede in Formula One, so for me to be the next F1 driver at all these races…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-ericsson/it-s-been-23-years-since-the-last-swede-in-formula-one-so-for-me-to/) [Marcus Ericsson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-ericsson/) > [When you are a kid racing karts, you want to be an F1 driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kubica/when-you-are-a-kid-racing-karts-you-want-to-be-an-f1-driver/) [Robert Kubica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kubica/) > [When you do everything you can to be an F1 driver and suddenly it stops, it's not painful but it's definitely not something you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kubica/when-you-do-everything-you-can-to-be-an-f1-driver-and-suddenly-it/) [Robert Kubica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kubica/) > [I don't care what other people think as long as I am happy. The day I die or retire, I have blown all my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-vettel/i-don-t-care-what-other-people-think-as-long-as-i-am-happy-the-day-i/) [Sebastian Vettel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-vettel/) > [Pressure is always a part of a racing driver's life, but my father helped me a lot on my way to becoming a F1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pressure-is-always-a-part-of-a-racing-driver-s-life-but-my-father/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being an F1 driver is a crazy job but not what everyone expects. My year consists of 20% driving and 80% media, marketing, and travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-ricciardo/being-an-f1-driver-is-a-crazy-job-but-not-what-everyone-expects-my/) [Daniel Ricciardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-ricciardo/) > [When I said I wanted to get back racing my dream was to be an F1 driver. I didn't know how realistic that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-monger/when-i-said-i-wanted-to-get-back-racing-my-dream-was-to-be-an-f1/) [Billy Monger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-monger/) > [I've really just had to learn and adapt more than ever before, because there's so much to do in F1. There's so much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-stroll/i-ve-really-just-had-to-learn-and-adapt-more-than-ever-before-because/) [Lance Stroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-stroll/) > [I had a great opportunity to be an F1 driver but, on the other hand, I have a great opportunity to become a rally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kubica/i-had-a-great-opportunity-to-be-an-f1-driver-but-on-the-other-hand-i/) [Robert Kubica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kubica/) > [There were always men looking for jobs in America. There were always all these usable bodies. And I wanted to be a writer. Almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/there-were-always-men-looking-for-jobs-in-america-there-were-always/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [When you're a screenwriter, it's like being a mechanic. You open the hood of the story, the director is the driver, and he says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-bidegain/when-you-re-a-screenwriter-it-s-like-being-a-mechanic-you-open-the/) [Thomas Bidegain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-bidegain/) > [People on a spiritual path - personal growth, spiritual practice, recovery, yoga and so forth - are the last people who should be sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/people-on-a-spiritual-path-personal-growth-spiritual-practice/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by Fernando Alonso > [Creating a top team and being in a position to win the Tour de France will give me a nice feeling. But I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/creating-a-top-team-and-being-in-a-position-to-win-the-tour-de-france/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [I always had that, even when I was a kid in a go-kart or when I was playing soccer or tennis: that need of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/i-always-had-that-even-when-i-was-a-kid-in-a-go-kart-or-when-i-was/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [You can play basketball and have a magic night and score 40 points with your team-mates and win the game. There are favourites for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/you-can-play-basketball-and-have-a-magic-night-and-score-40-points/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [If you're in the best team in the world, you or your teammate have to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/if-you-re-in-the-best-team-in-the-world-you-or-your-teammate-have-to/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [My parents are responsible for the two things I like doing most - driving and magic tricks. They bought me my first go-kart and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/my-parents-are-responsible-for-the-two-things-i-like-doing-most/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [The Triple Crown is an attractive target because it is so difficult to achieve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/the-triple-crown-is-an-attractive-target-because-it-is-so-difficult/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [McLaren was a risky project because they were completely new, but we are one team - we win and we lose together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/mclaren-was-a-risky-project-because-they-were-completely-new-but-we/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [I would not be happy if I had many trophies at home and people think I don't deserve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-had-many-trophies-at-home-and-people-think/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [After five years in Ferrari, being second all the time, I think it was enough for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/after-five-years-in-ferrari-being-second-all-the-time-i-think-it-was/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [My parents are very similar to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/my-parents-are-very-similar-to-me/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [It is difficult to take in how long you have been doing one thing when you compete at the highest level and always with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/it-is-difficult-to-take-in-how-long-you-have-been-doing-one-thing/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [In life, it's winning - when I go to the supermarket, and I go with a friend, I try to get through the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/in-life-it-s-winning-when-i-go-to-the-supermarket-and-i-go-with-a/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [If you challenge yourself and try to be the best in all areas, you have to be a complete driver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/if-you-challenge-yourself-and-try-to-be-the-best-in-all-areas-you/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [Every day, every year, every new season is a reset from the last, and you are still hungry for success, to do things better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/every-day-every-year-every-new-season-is-a-reset-from-the-last-and/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) > [My idea is to win all the iconic motor sport races in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/my-idea-is-to-win-all-the-iconic-motor-sport-races-in-the-world/) [Fernando Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) [Explore all 50 Fernando Alonso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/) ## More Drivers quotes > [(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-zimmermann/knitting-while-on-a-motorcycle-for-several-years-she-knitted-in/) [Elizabeth Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-zimmermann/) > [His saliva tasted like the wet dicks of ten thousand lonely truck drivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/his-saliva-tasted-like-the-wet-dicks-of-ten-thousand-lonely-truck/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“The drivers here are horrible. And by horrible, I mean they don't realize I have someplace to be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/the-drivers-here-are-horrible-and-by-horrible-i-mean-they-don-t/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [It is amazing how may drivers, even at the Formula One Level, think that the brakes are for slowing the car down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/it-is-amazing-how-may-drivers-even-at-the-formula-one-level-think/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [I have always believed that women are not victims, we are agents of change, we are drivers of progress, we are makers of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-have-always-believed-that-women-are-not-victims-we-are-agents-of/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Once you realize that documentation should be laughed at, peed upon, put on fire, and just ridiculed in general, then, and only then, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/once-you-realize-that-documentation-should-be-laughed-at-peed-upon/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [Emma was a shocking driver, simultaneously sloppy and petrified, and for the first fifty miles had been absent-mindedly driving with her spectacles on top…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/emma-was-a-shocking-driver-simultaneously-sloppy-and-petrified-and/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [I think social networks are really working for the drivers, because we're able to talk directly to fans and they get first-hand information. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenson-button/i-think-social-networks-are-really-working-for-the-drivers-because-we/) [Jenson Button](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenson-button/) > [ Harvey \[Weinstein\] didn't want to release \[MY SON THE FANATIC\]; he held it for two years because he wanted a happy ending, although I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/harvey-weinstein-didn-t-want-to-release-my-son-the-fanatic-he-held-it/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [I'm very proud of being Italian-American, but people don't realize that the mafia is just this aberration. The real community is built on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chazz-palminteri/i-m-very-proud-of-being-italian-american-but-people-don-t-realize/) [Chazz Palminteri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chazz-palminteri/) > [Yes, I have a driver's license." I leaned back against the wall, sighing. "Man, that must be so cool." "It ranks right up there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiersten-white/yes-i-have-a-driver-s-license-i-leaned-back-against-the-wall-sighing/) [Kiersten White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiersten-white/) > [Drivers in a traffic jam, frustrated by each others presence, are not the most amiable of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-riesman/drivers-in-a-traffic-jam-frustrated-by-each-others-presence-are-not/) [David Riesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-riesman/) > [The situation in Europe is much more advanced, in terms of pro-genocide trends, than in the United States, yet. But we're going very rapidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-larouche/the-situation-in-europe-is-much-more-advanced-in-terms-of-pro/) [Lyndon LaRouche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-larouche/) Browse all 1,038 Drivers quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic - not an F1 driver", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fernando Alonso" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic-not-an-f1-driver/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Drivers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic-not-an-f1-driver/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c10/fernando-alonso-13491_drivers_i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic_1794135.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I thought I would be a go-kart mechanic - not an F1 driver” — Fernando Alonso", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Fernando Alonso", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-alonso/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I thought I would be a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic-not-an-f1-driver/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-alonso/i-thought-i-would-be-a-go-kart-mechanic-not-an-f1-driver/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```