Alonso's 2025: A Frustrating Season With Eyes on 2026 Glory

Fernando Alonso's 2025 season was a masterclass in extracting performance from a struggling car, marked by his complete qualifying dominance over teammate Lance Stroll and growing public frustration with Aston Martin's inconsistency. Despite his heroic drives, the two-time world champion finished a disappointing 10th in the standings, with his focus now squarely on the 2026 season as his final shot at a third title.

Why it matters:

For a driver of Alonso's caliber, enduring a winless streak that now spans 225 races is a testament to his unwavering ambition. His partnership with an Aston Martin team, now bolstered by the arrival of legendary designer Adrian Newey and significant investment, represents one of the most compelling storylines heading into F1's new technical era. The 2026 season isn't just another year; it's a high-stakes gamble for both a legend seeking a final triumph and a team desperate to justify its resources and become a genuine title contender.

The details:

• Alonso was flawless in qualifying, outqualifying Lance Stroll in all 24 Grand Prix sessions and 28 of 29 including sprints, with an average gap of 0.367s.
• The AMR25 started the season as one of the slowest cars, particularly in slow-speed corners, leaving Alonso frustrated early on.
• A major upgrade at Imola transformed Alonso into a regular Q3 threat, but the car's performance remained volatile, exemplified by a back-row start at Spa one weekend and a 5th-6th place finish in Hungary the next—a result the team itself couldn't explain.
• Alonso's frustration boiled over publicly, criticizing ill-timed strategies, failed upgrades, and at one point telling his team over the radio, "you forgot about me... maybe you remember I'm here."

What's next:

All of Aston Martin's and Alonso's attention is now on 2026, which the 44-year-old has called his "last shot at glory." The arrival of Adrian Newey, now taking on the team principal role, is the centerpiece of their title ambitions. His involvement in designing the 'Project 678' car for the new regulations is seen as a potential game-changer. With a state-of-the-art facility and immense financial backing, Aston Martin has the resources. The question is whether they can finally deliver a winning car to reward Alonso's patience and challenge F1's top teams.