Adrian Newey makes ‘pretty confident’ claim on Fernando Alonso’s F1 future
· Yahoo Sports
Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey insists he is “pretty confident” that Fernando Alonso will extend his time with the team beyond this season.
Alonso, the 45-year-old two-time world champion, has stated he will decide his future over the summer break and is contemplating retiring from Formula 1 after more than two decades in the sport.
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Aston, with new engine partners Honda, have endured a horrendous start to the 2026 season, with safety concerns, car reliability and all-out speed among a myriad of issues for a team who were hoping to be challenging at the top this year. Instead, they are the slowest team alongside Cadillac at the rear of the field.
Yet F1 design guru Newey, who has been tasked with turning Aston’s fortunes around, believes Alonso will persevere with the outfit and drive for the team beyond his current contract, which expires at the end of the season.
“I mean, obviously Fernando’s an amazing driver, brings huge amounts to the team, both in his feedback and his ability,” Newey said.
“So for us, of course it’s important, but pretty confident that Fernando is enjoying his time with us and that we will continue with our relationship.”
Alonso, meanwhile, placed his faith behind Newey but acknowledged that he needed to consider whether the sport gives him the “adrenaline I need to live.”
Alonso said: “I have zero doubts that Adrian will provide the best car on the grid sooner or later. On the power unit, I think I have no doubts as well. I think it’s a matter of time that Honda fixes the issues because it’s what they’ve been doing for the last 40 years of racing.
Adrian Newey believes Fernando Alonso will stay with Aston Martin beyond 2026 Mike Krack believes Fernando Alonso will be invigorated by the chance to work with Adrian Newey (Bradley Collyer/PA) (PA Wire)“I’m relaxed, as I said many times, I’m thinking I need to know what I do next year and the years to come. I feel fresh. I feel motivated. I feel fast, but I need to enjoy also what I do.
“I think the direction that we took this year, from the driver’s side – I don’t know, from the spectator side – but behind the cockpit is not the same adrenaline that I used to have driving a Formula 1 car. So, that’s something that I need to put in the table.
“It’s not a problem of the competitiveness of the team, it’s just a problem of whether Formula 1 gives me the adrenaline that I need to live.”
Aston, who brought 16 upgrades to their car in Hungary, are bringing more updates for the first race after the summer break: the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on 23 August.