Fernando Alonso has said that he is happy to “accumulate” DNFs and bad luck this year with Aston Martin if it means he will win the opening Formula 1 race of 2026.
F1’s oldest driver has endured a tough start to 2025 and has so far yet to score a single point in an uncompetitive AMR25 package.
The Spaniard was on course to finish seventh at the Monaco Grand Prix, but an Energy Recovery System [ERS] failure saw him park up at Rascasse on Lap 36.
Aston Martin has Adrian Newey in its armoury as the team develops the challenger it hopes can compete for honours once the regulations change next season.
And Alonso, who is without a race win since 2013, explained that he is willing to be dished out all the misfortune this year in exchange for a shot at success in 2026.
“Well, to be honest, I will be happy if everything goes like this the whole season and I win in Australia next year,” he told media, including Motorsport Week post-race.
“For me, it doesn’t really change to finish P8 in Barcelona or Canada to score eight points this year or 22. It doesn’t change much.
“While next year, with the change of regulation, we really hope to be a contender for the championship. So I’m happy to accumulate all the DNFs this year.”
Alonso motivated and ‘performing at a very high level’
Alonso was happy to take all the positives from his Monaco weekend, and spoke of his belief that he is driving well, giving him a confidence boost as he looks forward to the remaining two-thirds of the campaign and onto next year.
“I’m performing at a very high level,” he said. “Obviously, you never have self-doubt when you are a Formula 1 driver.
“But it’s true that from time to time to have a nice result is always welcome. It puts a smile [on your face].
“You go tomorrow to the gym and you are a little bit more motivated, and you have some good news. In my case, there are no good news.
“So I need to keep going tomorrow morning to the gym.
“I need to keep performing well and that’s what I take. Monaco is a very special, very specific place. Mega laps in qualifying. Good laps now in the race even without the KERS system.
“If I had no points because of the slow pace or contacts with other cars or touching the wall or whatever because of my mistakes, I would be very frustrated.
“But I feel the opposite; I feel I’m performing at a very high level. So I feel relaxed and waiting for an opportunity.”
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