Fernando Alonso spoke at the Thursday press conference ahead of the upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, the penultimate race of the year.
It has been a season to forget for Aston Martin, a far cry from the car admired in the first part of 2023. The team currently occupies fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. The real goal is to become competitive again in 2026, and Fernando Alonso can’t wait for that.
The Spaniard, speaking at the Thursday press conference ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, analyzed the season. These are the words of the Asturian: “There have been ups and downs for everyone, and we haven’t been able to improve the car much throughout the season. All these difficulties are teaching us a lot of lessons, and that will be the most positive aspect of the second part of the year. We’ve understood well where we are struggling at the moment.
In Singapore, we had a good Sunday. After the summer break, we struggled. All the updates didn’t bring the results we were hoping for, but there is a clear understanding of where to focus. In Las Vegas, on Sunday, the car seemed to come alive, and I left Las Vegas thinking that I wanted to get back in the car and try again.”
The realistic goal is 2026: “At the moment, and for next year, we’re not in a position to fight for the World Championship. Maybe in 2026, with the new regulations, we could give it a try. Max has shown that he doesn’t have any weak points, he scored many points when the car was good, but also when it wasn’t competitive. If I had the chance, I could make his life difficult.”
Finally, Alonso concluded by talking about the difference between these cars and those from the early 2000s: “The pleasure of driving isn’t just about the track. Sometimes pushing the limits of what the car can do gives you joy. Then there’s the adrenaline, the speed, all the decisions you make instinctively give you a sense of freedom. The cars from the early 2000s were the best to drive, very light.”
