With Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there are only two Formula 1 races left on the calendar this year—and Fernando Alonso is glad to finally be parting ways with the AMR25.
The 2025 Formula 1 season is drawing to a close, much to the relief of Fernando Alonso. With Qatar and Abu Dhabi, there are only two races left on the calendar. “For me, these are two farewell Grand Prix races, and I see them as such,” the Aston Martin driver makes clear.
“Qatar with the sprint means that we hardly have any time and can’t allow ourselves a break because there’s only one free practice session and then we go straight into qualifying,” Alonso reminds ESPN. “After that comes Abu Dhabi, which for most people has a sense of closure and brings some peace and quiet.”
“I see these two races as a kind of small celebration, also because we won’t be driving this car anymore after that,” smiles the Spaniard, hinting at how relieved he is to finally leave the current AMR25 behind. “For that reason alone, we should enjoy these last appearances.”
“Only in the midfield” in Las Vegas
Alonso also failed to score any points in Las Vegas, finishing eleventh. “We were pretty much in the middle of the pack all weekend,” the 44-year-old summed up on DAZN. “We knew that Las Vegas would be one of our most difficult weekends, and we couldn’t expect to suddenly be outstandingly fast in the race.”
“We lost a few positions, and not much happened either in front of me or behind me. So it was a pretty lonely and somewhat boring race,” reported the Aston Martin driver, referring to a more fundamental problem with the current state of Formula 1.
“I don’t know how it looked on TV or how it looked further up the field, but from our position it was a long race with few opportunities.” Although Alonso was later told that he had made some impressive overtaking maneuvers, he apparently didn’t get much out of it.
Alonso with only one overtaking maneuver
“Actually, I only remember overtaking Tsunoda,” admits the Spaniard. “Apparently, that was shown on TV, so people saw that I made at least one. However, it was the only overtaking maneuver I managed to pull off in the race.”
“It was a race without any major incidents and a weekend where I was 18th in free practice,” the two-time world champion sums up clearly. “The simulation had already shown us to be the ninth or tenth best team, as was the case at Spa, because we also had great difficulties there.”
Alonso could still be satisfied with seventh place in qualifying, which he considered a minor surprise. “[In the race], however, you can see very clearly how valuable seventh place is with this car,” the Spaniard notes, alluding to the predictable drop in position during the race.
No hope in the last few races either
“We have to remain realistic,” he concluded. “For the last five or six races, we’ve either scored no points at all or only through lucky circumstances. I think Singapore was the last weekend where we really earned the points.”
“So it would be completely illogical to come to Qatar and expect to finish in the top six or seven,” explains the 44-year-old, clearly dampening expectations. “We’re traveling there with the hope and ambition of having a good weekend, because we never stop trying.”
“But there are still two races to go to conclude a very difficult 2025,” says Alonso, with a certain amount of relief clearly resonating in his voice. “We will do our best, but of course we are already thinking ahead to 2026.”
