Marc Surer believes Aston Martin has a future at the top, but it is precisely this rise that could become a problem for Fernando Alonso
Formula 1 expert Marc Surer generally believes that Fernando Alonso will continue his career in 2027. At the same time, however, the former Swiss Grand Prix driver fears that the 45-year-old veteran of the Aston Martin team has already had the best years of his career.
“I think he’ll carry on because he loves racing,” predicts the current TV pundit for Swiss television. However, this could be Alonso’s final contract in Formula 1: “Basically, one or two years – and then at some point it’ll be over.”
Alonso has been driving for Aston Martin since 2023. Following a surprisingly successful first season, the team has since gradually fallen further and further behind. Surer, however, sees a good chance that Aston Martin will catch up with the frontrunners in future – thanks to mastermind Adrian Newey, the new factory and the works partnership with Honda. But that could take a while.
And that’s bad news for Alonso, because: “The Aston Martin will get up to speed at some point; I’m sure of that. But the moment it does, […] the Aston Martin people will, of course, be able to sign almost any driver. At the moment, nobody wants to go there. […] And that will probably spell the end for Fernando Alonso, too, when the car improves and young drivers are fighting for places there.”
At 45, Alonso is the oldest driver on the current Formula 1 grid. By the time championship leader Kimi Antonelli was born, the Spaniard was already world champion. Surer believes that Alonso is still among the best, particularly when it comes to racing intelligence. But as far as sheer natural speed is concerned, even such an exceptional talent cannot turn back the clock.
“I reckon that over a single lap, he wouldn’t be able to keep up with someone like Lando Norris or a similarly talented younger driver anymore. Let’s say it might be a few hundredths, or a tenth or two. You’d definitely see the difference there. But at the moment, Lance Stroll is behind him anyway, so it’s less noticeable. But if he were up against a top driver, you’d see it,” analyses Surer.
