Fernando Alonso has ruled out Aston Martin being in a position to win races on merit in Formula 1 prior to the impending regulation change that is coming to the sport in 2026.
Alonso’s two seasons with Aston have delivered successive sixth-place finishes in the Constructors’ Championship, but 2024 marked a step back on his initial campaign.
Unlike his debut season with the team which delivered eight podiums, Alonso went the entire 24-race calendar without a top-three result, amassing 70 points to end up ninth.
Aston Martin began 2024 close to the leading quartet but, despite bringing more updates than the teams above, dropped into the midfield as the rounds progressed.
As a result, the Silverstone-based squad laboured to 21 points – all coming via Alonso – in the last 10 rounds to trail a sizeable 256 points behind fourth-placed Mercedes.
With Aston’s attention poised to be on the extensive rules change in 2026, Alonso has conceded that it isn’t realistic to anticipate his win drought since 2013 ending this term.
“We certainly won’t have the potential to win in 2025,” Alonso told Autosprint.
“The cars will be the same as last year and it will be practically impossible for us to make such a leap forward.
“We hope it will go better than 2024, but we will not win the championship.”
Alonso hopeful about Aston Martin in 2026
There have been high expectations attached to Aston Martin for the upcoming regulation overhaul as it welcomes design genius Adrian Newey to head the venture.
Alonso, who is treating 2026 as his last F1 season, harbours hope that his arrival and a works engine deal with Honda will give him the tools to compete at the sharp end.
“There will be some regulatory changes and Adrian Newey will start working on the 2026 project in April,” the Spaniard highlighted.
“I hope to be able to get more podiums, some wins and fight for the championship.
“I know, however, that 2026 is a year shrouded in mystery for everyone. We hope it will be favourable, but we don’t know.”
Alonso’s competitive desire remains unwavering
Regardless, Alonso, now 43, has expressed that his competitive desire to prevail hasn’t dimmed despite the hardship that he’s endured since he last stood on the top step.
“Even now, after 20 years, if I go to a karting circuit and see myself second on the timesheet, a tenth or half a tenth from the first, I have the same inner anger, the same frustration, that I might not even have dinner that night,” he said.
“I don’t like to lose, no matter how hard I work: it will always be like this.”
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