Alonso received his two world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, and has not received a race since his victory for Ferrari within the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.
Though thought to be one of many best F1 drivers of all time, and nonetheless acting at a really excessive stage, his profession since then has been a narrative of frustration.
Alonso completed runner-up within the championship thrice in 4 years for Ferrari, and in 2010 and 2012 missed out on beating Pink Bull’s Sebastian Vettel to the title by simply 5 and 4 factors respectively, regardless of driving a much less aggressive automobile.
A transfer to McLaren for 2014 didn’t repay because the crew had been in decline and their Honda engines had been the worst on the grid on the time.
He stepped away from F1 on the finish of 2018 to pursue different pursuits, successful the Le Mans 24 Hours and the world endurance championship twice, in addition to competing within the Indianapolis 500 and Dakar Rally.
Alonso returned to F1 in 2021 with Alpine and moved to Aston Martin in 2023, when the crew had a quick burst of competitiveness and Alonso took six podiums within the first eight races earlier than the crew’s kind tailed off.
Aston Martin are having a tough 2025 season and are seventh within the constructors’ championship with seven races remaining.
Alonso is 14th within the drivers’ championship, two factors and three locations behind team-mate Lance Stroll, regardless of out-qualifying the Canadian 19 occasions to 1 thus far.
Aston Martin proprietor Lawrence Stroll has spent the previous few years investing within the crew within the hope of turning them into champions.
Subsequent yr, they may produce their first automobile beneath the technical management of design legend Adrain Newey, who joined them in March this yr after resigning from Pink Bull in April 2024.
Alonso says he sees 2026, when F1 is introducing new laws for engines and chassis, as an “alternative” and has been impressed by his first experiences of working with Newey.
“He is an unimaginable particular person and everybody within the crew is studying from him,” Alonso stated.
Alonso, who will flip 45 in July subsequent yr, says he believes Aston Martin have put collectively all of the elements wanted to win.
“I am fairly satisfied about that,” he stated. “The one factor is when. That is most likely my solely query mark from this venture.
“In my case, driving within the final couple of years of my profession, clearly, I need to style the success of the Aston Martin venture.
“However I do know that every little thing takes a bit of little bit of time to connect all of the items collectively.
“Aston Martin preventing for and successful the World Championship is kind of assured sooner or later – we’ve every little thing wanted to combat for a World Championship.
“Then, to execute the job and to win it, you want some exterior elements as properly, you want a bit of assist out of your opponents, you want a bit of little bit of luck.”
