Fernando Alonso has fired a warning to the doubters of Aston Martin, reminding Formula 1 critics not to forget their words now that the team is making a strong comeback.
The Spanish driver has hit a rich vein of form recently, securing four consecutive top-10 finishes following a slow start to the season without points.
A new upgrade package, introduced at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, sparked Aston Martin’s turnaround, enabling Alonso to consistently compete in the midfield battle.
The British squad has left Alpine in the dust whilst overtaking Haas in the Constructors’ Championship and moving level with Racing Bulls in seventh.
With 12 rounds completed, Aston Martin now has its sights firmly set on Sauber, which has also enjoyed a recent resurgence in the midfield battle.
Prior to the revival, Aston Martin’s performances drew criticism, and ahead of the British Grand Prix, Alonso was swift to remind the media of those early judgments.
On a day when journalists had been invited to a tour of the team’s factory at Silverstone, the two-time World Champion had his comeback locked and loaded.
“We started the year in a very difficult and challenging position when we were not super competitive and we didn’t score points for many races,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Some of you guys were not really impressed with Aston Martin. You were saying that the team was not on the right path.
“Today, you visit the factory and you remain shocked by the facilities and the level of the team.
“Hopefully, some of your colleagues don’t forget next time they speak.”
Alonso on the 2026 reset and Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art factory
Alonso’s remarks came in response to a question about Aston Martin’s future and the recent factory visit.
As he went on to explain, the team sees the 2026 regulations reset as a major opportunity – not just for Aston Martin, but for many teams aiming to challenge at the front.
“Next year, we all know that it’s a big opportunity, not only for Aston, but for many of the teams that we want to become top teams,” he said.
“Next year, there is a reset on the rules, and we all want to be in that position so that we can fight for bigger things.”
Alonso was quick to praise Aston Martin’s expanded and renovated Silverstone-based campus, which many have already hailed as one of the best in F1.
“It’s an opportunity, and we know that the factory is one of the best facilities in the sport,” he continued.
“We said that already when it was under construction. Now it became a reality, so I’m happy that you saw and visited today.”
But Alonso also tempered expectations, reminding that infrastructure alone doesn’t guarantee success.
“This is not about what we have or where we build the car – he results are normally the ones that dictate how strong a team is,” he concluded.
READ MORE – Why going wheel-to-wheel with Fernando Alonso is ‘a bit different’ for Gabriel Bortoleto
Discussion about this post