Unfinished business behind Alonso’s new F1 contract

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This was an interesting arrangement for a driver who had always been looking over the fence for the best possible chances elsewhere, and some team changes did not always work out in his favor.

But as he approaches 43, his contract with Aston could very well be his last, and taking that deal into the regulation era in 2026 could help him win the elusive third world championship, or at least It will be the final roll of the dice to get back to winning ways.

It must be pointed out that his choice to stay with Aston Martin was not made out of shame of his wealth. There appears to have been interest from Red Bull, but the team management remains embroiled in a power struggle, and while Sergio Perez appears to have regained his form, the Milton Keynes team are in no hurry to make a decision.

There are growing signs that Andrea Kimi Antonelli is destined to be a Mercedes player in the future, with the Silver Arrows set to open in 2025 in case the 17-year-old Italian needs more cooking time. No matter who they sign with the club, it appears they will be joining as a stopgap solution.

Video: Alonso signs multi-year extension with Aston Martin

These words are anathema to Alonso, who is primarily motivated by feeling important and valued and who was seeking a long-term contract to help him win the title in 2026.

“In my head, Aston was the obvious choice for me,” he said. “I felt most wanted at Aston Martin, but all other conversations were light.

“I never came to a conclusion and maybe I needed more time or something like that, but at Aston there was a clear desire to work together and that was the same for me.”

Either way, there may be no place like home for Alonso. In contrast to just a few years ago, moving from Aston to Mercedes is no longer seen as a clear upgrade.

So Red Bull is working on a very ambitious program to build its own power unit for the 2026 regulations, which at this stage looks like a riskier bet than siding with an alternative manufacturer to Honda.

Meanwhile, Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is trying to assemble a team, including some former engineers, ready to take on Red Bull. Add to that a brand new headquarters, a new wind tunnel under construction and the power of fuel supplier Aramco to deliver sustainable fuel for 2026, and Aston is Alonso’s best choice to consistently deliver top results. Dew.

“In our first conversations, Aston and I were very clear that the exciting part of this project is exactly what we are building,” Alonso explained.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin AMR24

Photo credit: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

“For me, it was essential to introduce new regulations in a new project and to work with Honda as a partner.

“We currently have some incredibly talented technical talent in the team who will benefit from the new wind tunnel and new facilities at Silverstone, which makes 2026 a very attractive year for Aston.” There were a lot of factors that made it work.”

That would give Alonso the chance to tie up unfinished business not only with F1 but also with Honda.

His sour relationship with the Japanese brand has been marked by a three-year dalliance with McLaren, with his infamous ‘GP2 engine’ comments made at Honda’s home base in 2015 representing a symbolic embarrassment The relationship never recovered. Honda is said to have vetoed Alonso driving one of its engines in the Indy 500 in 2020.

However, as Honda’s management changed and time passed, Koji Watanabe, president of Honda Racing Corporation, said last year, “If you team up with Alonso again as a driver, we have no objection,” and now the situation has changed. seems to be hitting a dead end. No matter what’s in his driving.”

Fernando Alonso, McLaren MP4-30 Honda

Photo credit: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Just as he was given a second chance to make things right at McLaren over the past decade, Alonso now has the chance to rewrite history at Honda.

Alonso took pains to point out to the media his strong ties to Japan, pointing to Suzuka’s one-of-a-kind helmet and the samurai tattoo that adorns his back.

“I have such great love for Japan. I think their level of discipline and level of commitment is on a different level in Japan in general, and that applies to Honda as well,” he said. said.

“I also worked with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship and am familiar with that kind of discipline.

“Honda is definitely a manufacturer that has had a lot of success in Formula 1 and motorsport, and it’s a company that I’ve always admired.

“After McLaren entered the sport, things didn’t go well for a few years, but soon after that they solved all their problems and now they are dominating McLaren.

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing AMR24

Photo credit: Shameem Farhas

“I think they already have a very strong baseline going into 2026. We’re certainly going into the unknown, but if I had to choose by feel, I’d say We will choose our project and our engine and power unit.”