Patrese backs Aston Martin for 'very soon' success with Newey and Alonso

Former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has publicly backed Aston Martin to become a top contender "very soon," citing the potent combination of legendary designer Adrian Newey and veteran driver Fernando Alonso. The endorsement comes as the team prepares its Newey-designed AMR26 for the new regulatory era.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin's massive investment, culminating in the signing of Adrian Newey, represents one of the biggest technical coups in recent F1 history. Patrese's confidence signals a growing belief within the paddock that the team has assembled the critical elements needed to leap from the midfield to the front, potentially reshaping the competitive order if they can deliver on their promise.

The details:

• In an interview, Patrese stated the Silverstone-based team has "everything in place," specifically naming Newey, their factory, and overall infrastructure as key assets.
• He expressed strong belief in their imminent competitiveness: "I think if they are not ready immediately, I think they are coming for sure, and they will challenge very soon."
• Patrese also defended 44-year-old Fernando Alonso's ability to compete at the highest level, arguing that with the right car and engine, the two-time champion can "fight with the top drivers like Max [Verstappen] or [Charles] Leclerc."
• The team's new challenger, the AMR26, had its first track outing during the Barcelona pre-season test, marking the initial step in validating Newey's design philosophy under the new rules.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Aston Martin's official season launch on February 9th, ahead of the Bahrain test. The coming season will be the first true test of whether the Newey-Alonso partnership can translate high expectations into on-track performance and begin the process of challenging the established front-runners.