Why Alonso's new contract is remarkable and also why it is not
General
- Ludo van Denderen
Less than a week ago, Fernando Alonso seemed to doubt his future in Formula 1. Yes, he enjoyed racing. Still does, at the age of 42. At the same time, there was also frustration on a day when - by his own admission - he drove one of his best Grands Prix ever but crossed the line 44 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen. Meanwhile, it is clear that the passion for the sport has won out in the Spaniard's mind now that he has signed a new contract with Aston Martin. A rather remarkable commitment, it can be concluded.
Of course, Fernando Alonso still has that one dream: a third-world title in Formula 1. That must be why the Spaniard was reaching out to Red Bull Racing to see if there might be a place for him there. Who knows, in the future, Alonso might just have heard, but for now, Max Verstappen is sitting where he is, and there is no reason to wave goodbye to Sergio Perez. A commitment at Mercedes - where Alonso was not first choice either - would have had more disadvantages than advantages for him. Look at the current balance of power in F1: Aston Martin are not far behind Mercedes at the moment.
The duration of contract for Alonso is remarkable and also not
Once Alonso decided to extend his career, there was really only one logical place left: Aston Martin. Somewhat remarkably and at the same time not at all, though, is that the Spaniard went straight for a two-year commitment. It is understandable when you consider that Aston Martin will not have a car to win the world title with in 2025 either. Perhaps they will in 2026 when the technical regulations are upended and the balance of power within Formula 1 (possibly) changes. A championship in 2026 is more realistic than in 2025.
Aston Martin has invested heavily in better facilities and people in recent years, hoping to reap the benefits from 2026 onwards. The British team will even become a factory team of sorts, with Honda as their new engine supplier. Surely, there is something remarkable there. To put it mildly, the last time Alonso came out for a team with a Honda engine in the back (McLaren), it was by no means a happy marriage. Notoriously, Alonso said 'GP2 engine, GP2 engine', which the Japanese team took as a huge insult.
Honda lost a lot of personnel
Honda eventually left McLaren, only to win races and world championships with Red Bull Racing. Incidentally, that first title with Max Verstappen in 2021 came only after Honda officially withdrew from Formula 1. The Japanese team promised to supply engines to Red Bull (and VCARB) until 2025. However, the initial departure from the sport caused a lot of skilled personnel to leave Honda and find cover - mostly - at Red Bull Powertrains.
When Honda reversed their decision and announced a deal with Aston Martin, some new staff had to be found. Moreover, Honda was already behind the competition in building the 2026 engine. Take Audi, for example, who will join Formula 1 in 2026.
Of course, Honda has learned from the last few years with Red Bull and starting completely from scratch is not necessary either. But it is certainly not a given that Honda can immediately continue their current successes with Aston Martin. And no doubt that is something Alonso is secretly hoping for if he has that third-world title in mind. And if Aston Martin and Honda do not want something, it is a frustrated Alonso, reminiscent of his time at McLaren-Honda.