Метка: Fernando Alonso

Alonso will be «first to raise my hand» if he loses F1 edge at 45

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Alonso put pen to paper on a multi-year deal with Aston Martin after mulling over his future options, a deal which will include driving in F1 for at least the 2025 and 2026 season.

Depending on whether Alonso will want to continue or not, that F1 deal can either be extended or converted into a non-driving role with the brand in what the Spaniard called a «lifetime project».

Alonso will turn 45 during the 2026 season and while the two-time world champion sees no signs of slowing down any time soon, he says he will be honest if he does feel he is losing any of his drive.

«It is true, I will be 45 or more and keep racing,» he said. «If one day, I feel that I’m not motivated, not in good shape or not fast…I think I have a very honest relationship with Aston.

«I will be the first one to raise my hand and say: ‘You know, I have maybe lost here or there’ and we will find solutions.

«But I don’t see that coming for the next few years. As I said in Japan, probably one of my best races ever maybe happened just five days ago, so I am feeling good. I don’t see any problem there.

«And Lewis will turn 40 next year in January, so at least I will not be the only 40 plus that you will talk [about]!»

Alonso, who said retirement from racing in general was never an option, explained he used the hectic season start to question whether or not he wanted to continue his flat-out commitment to F1’s relentless schedule with 24 races and off-track activities.

After the Australian Grand Prix, he made the decision to seek an extension with Aston Martin as he felt his love for F1 trumped his wariness of the series’ demanding lifestyle.

«Obviously, Formula 1 takes all your time or your energy, you have to give up basically everything in life to keep racing,» he elaborated.

«I needed a few races or a few weeks to really think for myself if I was ready to commit for more years.

«It was not a racing factor, it was more the traveling, to be honest. Looking at this calendar, I was a little bit afraid that this would be heavy on me.

«There are all the commitments pre-season with all the photoshoots, video, car launch. All these kinds of things are quite demanding for drivers, and for me particularly in this part of my career.

«So I said, let me go through that tough period at the beginning of the year and that tough period of traveling, time zones, big planes and these kinds of things.

He concluded: «I felt that I love too much driving, that I cannot stop at the moment. And I think the sacrifices that you have to make are smaller than the joy of driving and the passion that I have for driving.

«I breathe Formula 1, I live Formula 1, I train to be fit to drive Formula 1 cars, I eat to be fit to drive Formula 1 cars.

«And it didn’t arrive, the moment that I felt I need to change the lifestyle. My lifestyle is great.

«I love what I do, so I will not be happy sitting at home and watching Formula 1 races because at the moment I still feel that I should be there.»



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The unfinished business behind Alonso’s new F1 deal

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


It is an intriguing arrangement for a driver who has always looked across the fence at the best possible opportunities elsewhere, with some team switches that didn’t always work out in his favour.

But as he approaches 43, his Aston deal may well be his last, and taking his agreement into the 2026 regulations era gives him one final roll of the dice to grab that elusive third world championship — or at least a return to winning ways.

It must be pointed out that his choice to stay put at Aston Martin is not one made amid an embarrassment of riches. There appeared to be some interest from Red Bull, but while the team’s management remains embroiled in power struggles and Sergio Perez has appeared to return to form, the Milton Keynes squad was in no hurry to decide.

The signs are increasing that Andrea Kimi Antonelli is destined to be Mercedes’ man for the future, so whoever the Silver Arrows sign for 2025 in case the 17-year-old Italian needs more cooking time is appearing to join as a stopgap solution.

Watch: Alonso Commits to Aston Martin with Multi-Year Extension

Those words are anathema to Alonso, whose main drive is to feel important and appreciated, having sought a long-term deal so he can help build towards a 2026 title tilt.

«In my head Aston was the logical thing for me to do,» he said. «I felt the most wanted in Aston Martin, all the other conversations were just light.

«I never came into any conclusions and maybe more time was needed or these kinds of things, while at Aston there was a clear desire to do work together, which was the same that I had.»

Perhaps there is no place like home for Alonso anyway. In contrast with just two or three years ago, moving from Aston to Mercedes can no longer be seen as a clear-cut upgrade.

Red Bull, then, is working on a hugely ambitious programme to build its own power units for the 2026 regulations, which at this stage seems a more risky bet than siding with the manufacturer they will replace in Honda.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is trying to assemble a squad ready to topple Red Bull, including some of its former engineers. Add brand-new headquarters, a new wind tunnel on the way and the might of fuel supplier Aramco to provide sustainable fuels for 2026, and perhaps Aston was always going to be Alonso’s best bet to go out on a high.

«I was very clear to Aston in the first conversations that the appealing part of this project is just everything that we are building,» Alonso explained.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

«For me it was a must to enter a new regulations with a new project, and also with Honda as a partner.

«We have incredible, talented people in the team now on the technical side that will benefit from the new wind tunnel and the new facilities in Silverstone, so there were a lot of factors that made 2026 very appealing with Aston.»

It will not only give Alonso a chance to tie up unfinished business with F1, but also with Honda.

His fractious relationship with the Japanese brand during its three-year plight with McLaren is more than well documented, with his infamous «GP2 engine» comment at Honda’s home ground in 2015 a symbolic embarrassment the relationship never recovered from, to the extent that even in 2020 Honda is said to have vetoed Alonso driving one of its engines in the Indy 500.

But as Honda’s management teams changed and time passed, that now appears to be water under the bridge, with Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe saying last year that «if we are to team up with Alonso again, as our driver, we have no objections whatsoever in him driving».

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-30 Honda

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-30 Honda

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Just like he received a second chance to make things work with McLaren last decade, Alonso now gets an opportunity to rewrite his Honda history.

Mentioning his one-off Suzuka helmets and the samurai tattoo that adorns his back, Alonso was at pain to point out to the media that he has a strong connection with Japan.

«I have great, great love for Japan. I think the level of discipline and the level of commitment that they have is just on another level, generally in Japan, but it translates to Honda,» he said.

«I worked with Toyota as well in the World Endurance Championship and I’m very familiar with that kind of discipline.

«Honda is definitely a manufacturer that has so much success in Formula 1 and in the world of motorsport, that is always a company that I respected.

«It didn’t work for us in McLaren in the years that they came to the sport, but right after that they fixed all the problems and they are currently dominating the sport.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing AMR24

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing AMR24

Photo by: Shameem Fahath

«I think they will have a baseline for 2026 that is already very strong. We are going into the unknown, for sure, but if I have to choose one by feeling, I will choose our project and our engine and our power unit.»

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At last month’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Alonso vowed he would take matters into his own hands and not let other players on the 2025 driver market dictate his destiny.

By being the first free agent to put his cards on the table, he has now made good on that promise.

Alonso is coming full circle. By staying where he is.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin F1 Team

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images



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Reuniting with Honda in F1 2026 «motivating»

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


On Thursday Alonso and Aston Martin announced the Spaniard would stay with the team until at least 2026, when Honda joins the Silverstone team as its works power unit partner.

Alonso and Honda endured strained ties when they worked together during a fraught three-year McLaren-Honda partnership, which was terminated early due to poor results and an increasingly difficult working relationship off the track.

At the time, the two-time F1 world champion did little to endear him to the proud Japanese company with some of the public criticism he handed out.

But seven years on those wounds appear to have healed and while Alonso acknowledged it «didn’t work out at McLaren», he said being able to work again with Honda was a big part of his call to renew his deal at Aston Martin.

«Part of the decision to stay at Aston is because they are with Honda for 2026. It was very, very important to me,» Alonso said.

«Honda is definitely a manufacturer that has so much success in Formula 1 and in the world of motorsport, it was always a company that I respected.

«It didn’t work for us at McLaren, in the years that they came to the sport, but right after that they fixed all the problems and they are currently dominating the sport.

Watch: Alonso Commits to Aston Martin with Multi-Year Extension

«I think they will have a baseline for 2026 that is already very strong, but also they have the capacity in Sakura of building something really nice.

«After the experience with McLaren-Honda and IndyCar as well, we have now the opportunity to work again together. That for me is a true pleasure.»

Honda and Aston’s fuel partner Aramco are believed to be in good shape for F1’s switch to sustainable fuels, which further convinced Alonso the tie-up was a «win-win» situation this time around.

«Obviously, with the sustainable fuels that we will have in 2026, this is something that I would love to experiment [with],» the 42-year-old explained. «We have a great partner in Aramco, so I see a win-win situation.

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«In 2026 we are going into the unknown for sure in terms of regulations, but if I have to choose one, my feeling is I will choose our project, our engine and our power unit.

«Firstly, because I think they are dominating the sport, they have a very, very strong engine on Red Bull and AlphaTauri [RB].

«And secondly, because with the new fuels and the new regulations, they will have all the tools available to succeed.»

 



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Alonso joked about F1 ban over Piastri DRS defence tactics

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A fortnight on from receiving a penalty for potentially dangerous driving against George Russell during a last-lap battle in Australia, Alonso found himself needing to hold his rivals back once again at Suzuka.

In the closing stages of the race, Alonso was at the head of an intense fight for sixth place, as George Russell back in eighth unleashed a late fightback on fresh tyres and started closing in on seventh-placed Oscar Piastri.

Well aware that fresher tyres would give Russell a huge advantage if they had to fight wheel-to-wheel, Alonso knew that his best hope of disturbing his Mercedes rival’s advances was to give Piastri behind him the benefit of DRS.

By keeping the McLaren within one second of him, Piastri having the straightline speed boost made it much harder for Russell to be able to find a way past.

This was exactly the same tactic that Carlos Sainz had used to great effect in Singapore last year when he ensured that the pursuing Lando Norris was kept within DRS range as that would help hold back a similar fightback from Russell who has been making progress in third.

Alonso’s tactics paid off brilliantly in slowing Russell’s advance and, when the Mercedes driver clashed with Piastri at the chicane late on to delay the pair briefly, the Aston Martin driver made a break for it over the final laps to secure his position.

Speaking to Spanish television channel DAZN after the race about his defensive games, Alonso said it was just normal racing, but cheekily suggested that after his penalty in Australia nothing could be taken for granted now.

«I don’t know what to say anymore after Australia, let’s see if I get disqualified for the rest of the championship,” he smiled.

“It’s clear that having Piastri behind, it was a way to defend myself from Russell, so I was probably taking a bit of battery off on the last straight to get Piastri within a second.

“Carlos did it like that in Singapore last year too, and it’s a normal racing thing.”

Piastri said it had been pretty obvious to him what game Alonso was up to, as he eventually lost seventh place to Russell on the final lap after making a mistake at the chicane and losing momentum.

“I could tell that Fernando was trying to keep me there by the way he was using his energy,” Piastri explained when asked by Motorsport.com for his view on events.

“With how difficult it is to follow in these cars, it’s quite a good strategy to stop a quicker car coming through.

“There were a few tough moments with George but, in the end, I made a mistake and he got past.

“So, disappointing to let that one slip right at the end but I just struggled a bit in general today.”

Watch: F1 2024 Japanese Grand Prix Review – Normal Service Resumed



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Not penalising Alonso for Melbourne F1 crash would’ve opened a «can of worms»

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


The F1 pack has been quizzed extensively about the incident late in the race last time out in Melbourne as this weekend’s Suzuka race gets underway, with a notable split in opinions amongst the racing cohort.

Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg “wasn’t very impressed with Fernando’s tactics”, while Sauber racers Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu both called the decision to penalise the Spaniard “harsh”.

Russell aired his views in the pre-event press conference in Japan, where he made the case that if the FIA stewards had not penalised Alonso, such tactics might have started appearing in different F1 racing scenarios and possibly even developed into dangerous situations in junior single-seater competition.

“I think it was obviously a strange situation that happened last week,” said Russell.

“As I said at the time, [I was] totally caught by surprise.

“I was actually looking at the steering wheel making a switch change on the straight, which we all do across the lap, and when I looked up I was in Fernando’s gearbox and it was too late and then next thing I know I was in the wall.

“So, I think if it were not to have been penalised, it would’ve really opened up a can of worms for the rest of the season and in junior categories, saying, ‘are you allowed to brake in a straight, are you allowed to slow down, change gear, accelerate, do something semi-erratic?’

“I don’t take anything personally with what happened with Fernando and it probably had bigger consequences than it should have.

“But if it went unpenalised, can you just brake in the middle of the straight? I don’t know.”

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

George Russell, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

When asked by Autosport for his thoughts on the ethics of tactics such as Alonso deployed, which have long been considered a legitimate part of racing in many quarters, Russell replied: “What you say is absolutely correct – every driver is open to change their line, brake earlier, power through the corner, do whatever.

“[But] when we start braking in the middle of the straight, downshifting, accelerating, upshifting again, then braking again for a corner, I think that goes beyond the realms of adjusting your line.

“And, as I said, I was actually looking at my steering wheel in that straight – as I’ve done every single lap prior.

“And when I looked up 100m before the corner, I realised I was right behind Fernando, rather than the half a second that I was.

“We’ve got so many duties to take care of when we’re driving – going around the race track, changing all the settings on the steering wheel, making sure you’re in the right engine mode, taking care of the tyres, talking to your engineer, managing the deltas on your steering wheel when it’s an in-lap, out-lap, safety car – whatever it may be.

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“And if you add into the mix that you’re allowed to brake in the middle of the straight to gain or get a tactical advantage, I think that is maybe one step too far.

“And the same when we talk about moving down the straight to get out of the slipstream.

“There was lot of talk about that in the past. It’s not overly dangerous, but it has a concertina effect. If everybody is moving around and if suddenly you brake test and there are 10 cars behind, it probably has a greater effect by the 10th driver than it does for the first driver behind.

“So, as I said, I don’t think what Fernando did was extraordinarily dangerous, but it will open a can of worms if it wasn’t penalised.”

The fallout from the incident is set to be discussed between officials and the drivers at the Suzuka driver’s meeting post-practice on Friday.

The location of Russell’s crash at Albert Park will also be a key point of order in that meeting.



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