A difficult season comes to an end – Fernando Alonso is already looking ahead to 2026 – He explains why success is guaranteed but requires patience at Aston Martin
Another difficult 2025 season is coming to an end for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin.
After the AMR24 already proved to be a challenge, its successor, the AMR25, also failed to deliver the hoped-for breakthrough to the top of Formula 1.
Ahead of the final race of the season, the Spaniard makes no secret of the fact that he is glad to close this chapter and look ahead to the new era starting in 2026.
“I think we’re happy to say goodbye to this year,” Alonso admits candidly. Expectations were higher, but the reality on the track was different. “We obviously weren’t as fast as we had hoped. It was a tough and challenging season in the AMR24, and the AMR25 was just the big brother of that AMR24.”
The team is not hiding from the problems, emphasizes the two-time world champion. “We are struggling. We are not hiding that.” Nevertheless, the aim now is to finish the last race as well as possible to help the team in the championship. But the focus has long been on the future—and that looks much brighter in the eyes of the Spaniard.
Everything is set for the big break
Despite the current stagnation, Alonso remains convinced that he is on the right track with the Silverstone-based team to be among the frontrunners in 2026 when the new regulations come into force. The infrastructure is in place and the workforce has been massively expanded.
“Yes, I still think so,” Alonso replies when asked if he continues to believe he has the best package for the future. “The factory is complete. The wind tunnel is brand new, finished, and we are already using it.”
However, the minds behind the project are much more important. With star designer Adrian Newey, former Mercedes engine guru Andy Cowell, and ex-Ferrari man Enrico Cardile, Aston Martin has put together a technical supergroup. “We have great people and great talent in the factory,” says Alonso.
Success at Aston Martin: Not a question of if, but when
The puzzle is ready, now it just needs to be put together. However, Alonso warns against hasty expectations, as the new structures need time to take effect. “People have only been in the system for a few months. Those few months won’t be enough [for an immediate turnaround],” he explains realistically. “We need a full season to put everything together. That’s the thing.”
However, he has no doubts about the ultimate success of Lawrence Stroll’s project. “I don’t know if Aston Martin will be successful? For me, it’s a guarantee,” Alonso clarifies. “The biggest question is when. That’s what we’re all trying to do: make it happen as quickly as possible.”
Better a fast car than “clever driving”
With a view to the 2026 regulations, there is often speculation that the new power units and modified aerodynamics could play into the hands of experienced and “clever” drivers like Alonso – for example, through tactical energy management. Alonso himself takes a pragmatic view.
“You can always play around a bit with the tools you have at your disposal,” he says. He points to the current generation of cars, which have made overtaking difficult. “If you qualify well, you can keep cars behind you, even if you don’t have the pace, as we saw in Qatar.”
He uses his experience in various corners to ensure that he is not overtaken. In 2026, energy management could offer similar opportunities to achieve unexpected results. But Alonso would prefer not to have to use these tricks in the first place.
“You can’t be proud of finishing seventh or sixth by using 100 percent of your brain,” says Alonso in his typical manner. “I prefer not to use my brain and win all races with a 20-second lead.”
