Alonso says Aston Martin's big bet on 2026 F1 season will weigh heavily on his driving future
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Fernando Alonso says that Aston Martin's all-in bet on next season will play a large part on the looming decision of when he definitely calls it quits from Formula 1.
'It will be very important,' Alonso told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. 'I need to see how motivated I am.
'Every year has its own mood and feeling, how competitive and motivated you are to keep your fitness at a high level,' he said. 'Your personal and family situations, all these things play a role. I know that very important decisions will come when I stop racing.'
After winning two F1 titles back in 2005 and 2006, Alonso eventually stepped away from F1 in 2018 when his stint with Ferrari failed to deliver more successes. Seeking new challenges, the Spaniard tried his hand at the 24 Hours Le Mans, Indy 500 and the Dakar rally race, only to return to F1 in 2021.
'For 40 years I have had a steering wheel in my hand and I know that one day I will have to stop,' Alonso said. 'I did stop F1 once in 2018 and I did come back because I needed it, and the next time I do that I will have to be sure.'
The former Renault champion is enduring one of the worst seasons of his long and topsy turvy career. He has failed to finish three races, including last weekend's Monaco GP, and has yet to finish in the top 10. The last time he failed to score a point through the first eight races was 2015.
The context matters, however, and Alonso and his Aston Martin team lowered expectations from the start of the season. They are all concentrated on working with former Red Bull top designer Adrian Newey to put all their energies into making a good car under the rule changes coming for 2026.
But sacrificing a year is a big ask for a driver who turns 44 in July and has little tolerance for teams that don't give him a competitive car.
The last time Alonso won an F1 race, he did so right here on the same track back in 2013 with Ferrari when he claimed victory No. 32. He also won the Spanish GP in 2006 with Renault.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
Aston Martin had given him a good car in 2023, when he arrived to the Spanish GP with hopes of winning that allusive 33rd race, but it was not to be. This time he realistically is just hoping to be in the points with his green car struggling and McLaren and Red Bull far, far ahead.
That said, this year can't be a total wash, according to Alonso.
'The focus is on 2026, but in order to be confident with 2026 you have to build momentum in 2025 and deliver some parts on track to make the car faster,' Alonso said. 'The biggest steps can only happen in 2026. That is where the hopes are.'
___
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Toronto Star
26 minutes ago
- Toronto Star
Shigeo Nagashima, known in Japan as ‘Mr. Pro Baseball,' dies at 89
TOKYO (AP) — Shigeo Nagashima, who was known in Japan as 'Mr. Pro Baseball' and was one of the most famous people in the country during his playing days, has died. He was 89. His death was confirmed Tuesday by the Yomiuri Giants, the team he helped make famous and eventually managed. His passing was also announced in special extra editions of newspapers that are handed out on street corners — a throwback to breaking news in an earlier time. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW He was famous in a period before Japanese players like Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani began to star in North American MLB. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Nagashima 'gave bright dreams and hopes to the society.' Nagashima helped lead the Giants as they won nine straight Japan Series titles — the counterpart to the World Series — from 1965 through 1973. His equally famous teammate was Sadaharu Oh, who hit 868 home runs in his career. Nagashima played third base, finished with a .305 batting average, had 2,471 hits, 1,522 RBIs and 444 home runs. He played for 17 seasons and retired in 1974, then returned to manage the Giants in 1975 through 1980. He was fired after the 1980 season when the Giants failed to win the Japan Series during his stint. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW He returned to the dugout in 1993 and led the Giants to the Japan Series title in 1994 with Hideki Matsui, who eventually joined the New York Yankees. He also won the championship in 2000. He was to set to manage Japan in the 2004 Athens Olympics, but had a stroke a few months before that left him partially paralyzed and unable to participate. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
33 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Shigeo Nagashima, known in Japan as ‘Mr. Pro Baseball,' dies at 89
TOKYO (AP) — Shigeo Nagashima, who was known in Japan as 'Mr. Pro Baseball' and was one of the most famous people in the country during his playing days, has died. He was 89. His death was confirmed Tuesday by the Yomiuri Giants, the team he helped make famous and eventually managed. His passing was also announced in special extra editions of newspapers that are handed out on street corners — a throwback to breaking news in an earlier time. He was famous in a period before Japanese players like Ichiro Suzuki and Shohei Ohtani began to star in North American MLB. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Nagashima 'gave bright dreams and hopes to the society.' Nagashima helped lead the Giants as they won nine straight Japan Series titles — the counterpart to the World Series — from 1965 through 1973. His equally famous teammate was Sadaharu Oh, who hit 868 home runs in his career. Nagashima played third base, finished with a .305 batting average, had 2,471 hits, 1,522 RBIs and 444 home runs. He played for 17 seasons and retired in 1974, then returned to manage the Giants in 1975 through 1980. He was fired after the 1980 season when the Giants failed to win the Japan Series during his stint. He returned to the dugout in 1993 and led the Giants to the Japan Series title in 1994 with Hideki Matsui, who eventually joined the New York Yankees. He also won the championship in 2000. He was to set to manage Japan in the 2004 Athens Olympics, but had a stroke a few months before that left him partially paralyzed and unable to participate. ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Bruised hand? No problem as NL Player of the Week Christian Yelich and Brewers continue momentum
CINCINNATI (AP) — A bruised right hand didn't have any effect on Christian Yelich. The Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter — named the National League's Player of the Week before Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds — was back in the lineup and continued his hot streak with a solo home run in the third inning to lift the Brewers to a 3-2 victory. 'Sore hand or not, he crushed two balls tonight. So, he's living up to his Player of the Week (honor),' manager Pat Murphy said. Yelich left Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning after being hit by a sinker from Ranger Suarez in the first inning. Once he found out X-rays were negative, the 2018 NL MVP was preparing to make sure he wouldn't have to take a day off. 'Worked on it the rest of the game (yesterday) did some stuff on the flight (from Philadelphia to Cincinnati) and came in early today. It was fine,' he said. 'Once I knew it wasn't broken it was like yeah, we'll get back out there. It's something we all take pride in, showing up for each other and being able to play.' Yelich is a pivotal reason why the Brewers have won eight straight games. He has a nine-game hitting streak — the second-longest active run in the majors — and is batting .450 (18 for 40) with six home runs and 14 RBIs. It is the sixth time Yelich has been the NL Player of the Week, but the first since April 2019. He had three homers last week, including his first walk-off with a grand slam on May 27 against the Boston Red Sox. Yelich extended his hitting streak when he drove Brady Singer's slider on a full count 417 feet to straightaway center and off the batter's eye. 'It was a 3-2 count, not really knowing what was going to happen there. He threw a couple sliders that I swung over, so I knew there was a chance it could show up,' Yelich said. Yelich also lined a ball to center in the sixth inning that looked like might fall for extra bases, but Cincinnati's TJ Friedl made a leaping grab. The 33-year-old is a two-time NL batting champion, but missed 81 games last season due to a lower back injury. Yelich was batting .184 on May 21 but has raised his average 49 points during his streak. He has 13 homers on the season, which is tied for eighth-most in the National League. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'I know he's worked at it. I mean, he takes it really personally,' Murphy said. 'He's been doing it a long time. He feels that responsibility to his teammates. He never gives himself enough credit.' While Yelich is on one of his best streaks in six years, he is trying to maintain his focus on the present. 'Each year is its own year, they're all different,' he said. 'You just try to stay focused on your work in the day-to-day. You know, flush the previous day whether it is good or bad, and have good focus on what you want to do and your approach that day. Kind of stay locked in and put blinders on.' ___ AP MLB:
