Latest news with #FernandoAlonso
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Why Adrian Newey 'goes to another office' to avoid work on 2025 Aston Martin F1 car
Adrian Newey made a rare appearance trackside during the British Grand Prix Formula 1 weekend. Apart from a visit to Monaco in May (and a cameo at the Goodwood Festival of Speed) he has been sequestered within Aston Martin's 'campus' near Silverstone since he started at the team in March. But while Newey was present on the British GP grid with his sketchbook – despite overseeing 12 constructors' championship-winning cars since 1992, he has never been too proud to learn from others' ideas – he will continue to focus on developing Aston Martin's response to the 2026 technical reset rather than being drawn into solving problems with the current car. Advertisement 'He's working, he's involved,' Fernando Alonso told Spanish broadcaster DAZN at Silverstone. 'He's very motivated. But it's true that this year's car doesn't seem to interest him much. 'Every time we ask something about this year or how to improve something, he gets up and goes to another office. So he's already in 2026 mode…' Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Adrian Newey, Managing Technical Partner of Aston Martin F1 Team Although Alonso was being somewhat flippant, Newey has traditionally resisted becoming involved in development of an inherited project when moving teams. His first Williams, the FW14, had more in common aerodynamically with his previous design (the Leyton House CG901) than the FW13 it replaced; at McLaren he got straight into conceptual work for the 1998 narrow-track ruleset while still on gardening leave, having as little involvement as possible with the '97 car; at Red Bull he almost entirely swerved the wretched RB2. Advertisement 'I spent some time trying to understand the RB2,' he told this author, with a barely suppressed eye roll, in a contemporary interview. [ ] As surely as eggs don't bounce, a 'but' followed: reshaping the malfunctioning technical department he'd inherited from Jaguar Racing took priority over silk-pursificating the car it had produced. And this is the policy to which Newey is adhering at Aston Martin, while phrasing his observations more diplomatically – in public, at least, though he has spoken of the development 'tools' being 'weak'. The challenge is to transact this reconstruction phase while managing expectations in the interim. Team owner Lawrence Stroll is notoriously impatient, as evinced by excoriating 'roastings' in the factory on the Monday following an unsuccessful weekend – of which there have been rather too many of late. Alonso, now into his 40s and painfully aware of the passage of time, is also in a hurry to get in a quick car again. Lance Stroll gives the outward impression of being manifestly disengaged, and yet talk of behind-the-scenes tantrums suggests he does have an interest in development taking a turn for the better. Advertisement Read Also: Lance Stroll's bizarre Canadian GP press conference: dour, defensive, and disconnected CEO and team principal Andy Cowell must therefore follow a pragmatic and delicately balanced route through this season, enabling Newey to reshape the technical organisation to his liking and keep his head in the 2026 game while also giving some impression of forward momentum with the current project. A new floor applied to the AMR25 in Imola was said to have had a noticeably positive effect, while further revisions to that floor – including new 'fences' – at Silverstone were in close-but-no-cigar territory. Advertisement 'I think it's a step forward – the car felt a bit better,' said Alonso. 'The data showed that in some parts of the track there's improvement; in others it's harder to see. So, let's say it's a very small upgrade package, but it's always welcome. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing 'The way the grid is right now – with five or six cars within two tenths – a tenth or even half a tenth is valuable. It also shows that the team keeps pushing. 'We're not content being stuck in the midfield. We want to be as close as possible to the top teams by the end of the year.' If the trajectory doesn't seem to be heading towards that vaguely expressed position in the upper midfield, will Stroll Sr start thumping desks and demanding Newey get involved? Maybe, but Adrian will resist all the way. To read more articles visit our website.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Fernando Alonso Champions Max Verstappen's 'Fighting' Spirit Amid Red Bull Woes
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Aston Martin Formula One driver Fernando Alonso has commented on Max Verstappen's fighting spirit, highlighting his urge to win, despite Red Bull's RB21 F1 car holding him back. The Spaniard admitted that Red Bull has not given Verstappen the best car to fight a championship battle. Red Bull dominated the current ground effect era that began in 2022, thanks in part to cars designed by aero guru Adrian Newey. The superior performance ensured the team won all but one Grand Prix the following year in 2023. However, Red Bull began experiencing balance problems on the RB20 F1 car after Newey announced his exit in mid-2024. McLaren Racing's resurgence around the same time meant Red Bull lost out on a constructors' championship victory, but Verstappen managed to win his fourth drivers' title. Fast forward to 2025, and one can see that car problems continue to affect the team's performance. Yuki Tsunoda, who was promoted to the seat alongside Verstappen early in the season, continues to find it challenging to adapt to the RB21. Verstappen has won only two races in the first ten Grands Prix of the season so far, a stark contrast to his seven wins from the first ten races last year. He secured P5 despite having dropped to P10 after spinning out in the previous round at Silverstone. Despite the car challenges, the Dutch driver is third in the Drivers' Standings below both McLaren drivers, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team in parc ferme during Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team in parc ferme during Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 02, 2025 in Miami, Florida. MoreAlonso praised Verstappen for his flawless performances while addressing his 2025 campaign. Speaking to DAZN, as quoted by Planet F1, he said: "I don't think much has changed this season compared to other seasons. I think Verstappen has had his best season to date every year. "In 2021, he stole the championship away from Lewis Hamilton and then he dominated for several years in a row. He didn't have the most dominant car last year and won the championship with several races to go. "This year, he may not even have a car that's one of the best two or three, but he's still fighting along. He always performs at the top level. It's another task for Red Bull to give him a car to fight for the championship. But there is no doubt about him." Adding to Red Bull's woes is the sudden ousting of team principal Christian Horner, who served the team for 20 years. He has been replaced by former Racing Bulls team boss Laurent Mekies. Given the problems with Red Bull's title challenger and Horner's exit last week, it remains to be seen how that will affect the team's performance for the remainder of the season, especially Verstappen, who is being linked to a potential move to Mercedes.
Newsweek
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Fernando Alonso Left Steaming After Aston Martin Strategy Blunder
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso finished the British Grand Prix in P9 - taking home a solid points haul - though he was not impressed with the team's strategy decisions. Despite finishing in the points, Alonso felt there were points left on the track and the team failed to capitalize on the various safety cars and changing conditions. "It seems that P3 was very possible. I started P7, finished P9. Nico started P18, finished P3," he told the media after the race. "So I think if you get it right, we know in these mixed conditions how good the result could be. Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team scoots in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 6, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team scoots in the paddock during the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 6, 2025 in Northampton, United Kingdom. Photo by"It seems that we are not nailing the strategy always on these conditions, especially on my side of the garage. For whatever reason, we are always a little bit slow to react." Alonso was furious with the team during the race as his teammate, Lance Stroll, managed to make up several positions by staying out during safety cars. Those decisions weren't made from Alonso's side of the garage, which led to frustration on the radio. His luck eventually turned his way after Alonso made the bold decision to pit for slick tires on lap 38 of the race. He was the first driver to take the risk and put on the medium tire. At first, he was sliding around due to the track still being wet, but he eventually managed to make the switch pay off. The decision to opt for the medium tire helped him move up from P14 to eventually finish ninth, although graining issues limited his ability to pass other cars. After the race, Alonso was left wondering what could have been if he had been in a similar position to Stroll, who ran in third for a good part of the race. "Yeah, I don't know, I would like to have his track position to be honest and try to feel the deg from that because I was P14 when everyone switches to dry, so I don't know," the Spanish driver said. "I think he was with the soft at the end, so maybe we grained the tyres more than the others because I had the medium and I had some graining as well, so I imagine the soft was maybe even worse." While dropping two positions from his starting spot is a bitter pill to swallow, Alonso did well to rescue some points. For the second half of the season, Aston Martin will need to review its strategy to identify areas for improvement and avoid missing out on more points. British Grand Prix Race Results Lando Norris - McLaren Oscar Piastri - McLaren Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber Lewis Hamilton - Ferrari Max Verstappen - Red Bull Pierre Gasly - Alpine Lance Stroll - Aston Martin Alex Albon - Williams Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin George Russell - Mercedes Oliver Bearman - Haas Carlos Sainz - Williams Esteban Ocon - Haas Charles Leclerc - Ferrari Yuki Tsunoda - Red Bull DNF 16. Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes 17. Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls 18. Gabriel Bortoleto - Sauber 19. Liam Lawson - Racing Bulls 20. Franco Colapinto - Alpine More F1 news: How Lewis Hamilton Made the F1 Movie Production More Expensive For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
In His 239th F1 Start, Nico Hülkenberg Finishes on the Podium
After 239 starts, Nico Hülkenberg finally has a podium finish in F1 after starting at the back of the grid in 19th for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. The German driver delivered Sauber only its 11th podium in the team's history and the first since Kamui Kobayashi in the Japanese Grand Prix in 2012. Hülkenberg has been on the F1 grid for 15 years; only Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have more starts than the 37-year-old driver, and they've combined for 308 podiums. It can't be overstated how long this finish has been coming for the veteran. Hülkenberg improved to 11th by the second lap as the midfield scrambled, and the Visa Cash App Honda of Liam Lawson made contact with the Haas of Estaban Ocon, bringing out the first safety car. The next incident occurred when his Sauber teammate Gabriel Bortoleto ended up in the barrier, ending his race. The rookie would end up running with the team to celebrate Hülkenberg's maiden podium. "Nico, it's Gabi," Bortoleto jumped on Hülkenberg's radio following the race. "You have no idea how happy I am for you, you're a legend. Absolutely insane what you did today." After the first set of pit stops, Hulkenberg cycled into the top ten in seventh and raced his way to fifth before the rain. As the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Pulled out to more than 15 seconds in front of the rest of the field, the podium battle fell between the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, the Sauber of Hülkenberg, and Lewis Hamilton in his first home race with Ferrari. While Hülkenberg was chasing his first podium, Stroll was chasing his first since 2020, and Hamilton was looking to extend his podium streak to 13 straight at Silverstone. Hülkenberg made it by Stroll and Hamilton followed, the Sauber driver wouldn't believe he was going to finish third until he was told his gap to Hamilton following the final pit cycle. "I was in denial until the last pit stop, then when I heard that we gapped Lewis quite a bit with the one extra lap," Hülkenberg said. "I thought 'okay, this is good pace', but he was catching quite quickly. The pressure was there." "I knew that he was going to give it his all in front of his home crowd and was like 'sorry guys, it's also my day," Hülkenberg said of keeping Hamilton off the podium. Hülkenberg moved to Sauber this year from Haas in preparation for the team transitioning to Audi in 2026. Sauber's Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley saw the podium as a long time coming for his driver, but Hülkenberg's starting position wasn't prepared for it to happen at Silverstone. So much so, Mercedes had to gift Sauber champagne for their podium celebration. "What I can't believe is it's taken so long for a driver of Nico's talent to get this podium," Wheatley told F1TV. "He drove a masterclass race today. Absolutely, did not do a thing wrong from start to finish. It gave the team confidence, and the team responded. We made the right calls on strategy, all the right conversations were being had. There was a good calmness on the pit wall during this time. I find myself in a situation that I couldn't possibly have imagined when I joined the team in Japan." You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Alpine hires Steve Nielsen as new managing director
Alpine has signed its former sporting director, Steve Nielsen, to be its Formula One team's managing director — replacing Oliver Oakes after his sudden departure as team principal in May. Nielsen worked at Alpine between for almost 10 years in the late 1990s and 2000s, and oversaw its sporting matters during its two most recent championship-winning seasons. These were 2005 and 2006, when now Aston Martin racer Fernando Alonso led what was then called Renault to F1 world title doubles. Advertisement After starting his career in a short-lived role as a policeman, Nielsen started working as an F1 truck driver before joining the Lotus squad and starting to climb the team role ranks. He left his most recent job with an F1 squad — as sporting manager at Williams — midway through 2017 before he joined the Formula One Management organization. He held this position overseeing the sporting rules matters on the championship's behalf before leaving to take a similar role at the FIA in 2023. But Nielsen left this job as one of the many rapid exits under president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and then rejoined FOM as a consultant. Nielsen now rejoins Flavio Briatore at Alpine, as the Italian was the team principal during Renault's title-winning years — leading the team across two stints including when it was known as Benetton from the early 1990s. Briatore is currently Alpine's executive advisor and de facto team chief, but he did not claim the team principal title when Oakes left following the squad immediately after the Miami Grand Prix. At the time, this was assumed in some quarters to be related to the decision to replace driver Jack Doohan with Franco Colapinto as Pierre Gasly's teammate in a 2025 season where Alpine is rooted to the bottom of the constructors' championship. It later transpired that Oakes had resigned after his brother William, and fellow director of junior single-seater team Hitech Grand Prix, had been arrested and charged with 'transferring criminal property', per London's Metropolitan Police. Oliver Oakes is not accused of any wrongdoing. Announcing Nielsen, an Alpine statement read: 'Under the leadership of Flavio Briatore, Nielsen will oversee the day-to-day running of the team at Enstone, starting from September 1 ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.' (Photo of Steve Nielsen alongside Flavio Briatore:)
