Fernando Alonso has called for time to allow Aston Martin and Adrian Newey to succeed in Formula 1, saying “this is not football”.
Newey has been at Aston Martin as its Managing Technical Partner for less than a month and is busy employing his design genius to ensure the team capitalises on the 2026 rule changes.
Newey is a key component in Team Owner Lawrence Stroll’s plan to turn Aston Martin into a winner, which includes a state-of-the-art factory and wind tunnel, Honda works engine power and a revitalised organisational structure under CEO and Team Principal Andy Cowell.
But Alonso has argued that despite having the key ingredients for success, it will take Aston Martin time to reap the rewards.
“I think the package is completed now, so we will need time,” Alonso told select media, including Motorsport Week at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
“This is not football. Football is very easy, you take the best pitch, the best manager, the best players and eventually you win maybe the next match.
“In F1 you can have the best facilities and the best people but you still need time to put all the ingredients together and win and we have so many examples in F1 history.
“I think now the team is not lacking anything compared to the top teams in terms of facilities and people and talent and wind tunnel, all these kind of things, but we still need the time to put everything together.
“I hope that 2025 will be enough to use that time in taking all the lessons and learning and preparing the 2026, it matches quite well with the change of regulation also for next year but there is no guarantee.”
Alonso also acknowledged that Aston Martin isn’t alone in having the capabilities to succeed.
“In F1, we have man,y many examples of great teams and great organisations that are still not able to win because everyone is so perfect here that you need to do something extra, and we will try to do that as soon as possible and shortcut if we can,” he said.
Alonso excited by Newey-led future at Aston Martin
Such is the brief period Newey has been in office and the busy start to the 2025 F1 season, Alonso had yet to properly touch base with his new colleague before the Chinese GP.
“We haven’t spoken in detail yet,” Alonso revealed in Shanghai.
“Obviously, we’ve all been very busy – from the Bahrain test to Australia, then straight to here in China.
“When we go back to the factory, hopefully, we’ll have more time to sit down properly.
“But I know he’s really motivated, and he’s fully involved in everything that’s coming for 2026.
“He’s also looking at what we’re doing every weekend. I’m definitely looking forward to working with him.
“I know his thinking, I know his approach for the last years, we’ve be talking for many years, we’ve been together last year at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, we had lunch together.
“So I know what he’s capable of, and I’m excited for the future.”
Alonso will turn 45 next season, and 2026 could well be his last.
If Newey and Aston Martin deliver, Alonso’s final campaign could prove to be historic.
READ MORE – Fernando Alonso: Adrian Newey ‘impact’ at Aston to be greater than Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari
