Can Fernando Alonso, aged 44-45, win races and maybe the F1 World Championship in 2026? Place your bets now…
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15 Comments
Because he (Alonso) said so: “They (Aston) might do well in the first year, but by the second or third, they're guaranteed to do well. But I have to consider it myself. If the car goes badly, there's a good chance I'll stay for another year to finish on a positive note. If the car goes well, 2026 will probably be my last year."
I put a nice bet on FA to win the championship.. at 10:1
Peter, for that to happen the RB, the McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes would all have to have terrible seasons. He doesn’t have the consistency anymore, and the team the support.
Fernando himself said that if 2026 is a good year, it will be his last year.
Given that Aston has been in contact with Verstappen, Leclerc and Russell, they are planning on replacing Alonso if one of these prospects is willing to vacate their current seat for an Aston Martin one in 2027.
That’s because Stroll’s seat is untouchable because Aston Martin is project get-Lance-a-WDC, until Lawrence & Co sell their ownership stake.
That says to me it will not be completely in Alonso’s hands whether he gets to stay for 2027 or not, regardless of his remarkable skill level at his age.
As he is in his mid 40’s he doesn’t have the longevity, and quite possibly also no longer the peak potential the 3 mentioned replacements currently have.
Alonso in his prime might’ve given at least 2 of those a run for his money, but he is likely 10 years too old for that now unfortunately.
This year is going to be so exciting. Problems is, I think that every year. Let’s hope.
Maybe if Aston nailed the design of this year's car he has a chance of winning, but in a competitive field things need to go wrong for too many other drivers.
Alonso doesn't deserve Honda, after he disrespected them
And Rindt was by no means slow
I hope you’re right about Fernando. I don’t doubt his skill or will for a second, and Newey with a fresh challenge to overcome, a point to make and competitors to best? He won’t abide anything but success, surely. I’m a little worried about Honda though. I’m fearful they’re going to be six months behind Mercedes (or whoever) and suspicious that Aston is still a few years away from a possible title run. Hope I’m wrong – imagine a title fight with Alonso V’s Russell / Piastri / Norris … maybe even LeClerc! Imagine Alonso V Hamilton in 2026!
😁
I’m an Australian McLaren fan, so I’d dearly love to see OP81 out grit Norris and will himself to a WDC in ‘26 … but who doesn’t want to see Ferrari succeed, who doesn’t want to see Hamilton V LeClerc?
I know there’s a lot of negativity and, frankly fear that the cars will disappoint. Maybe they will, but they’re the cars we’ve got. The teams and drivers will find a way and I think this fixation on what the cars will and won’t do has us ignoring the possibilities. What can Sir Lewis do if Ferrari have a car for an entire season? What about Aston?, and if so, what about Fernando? Will McLaren retain their edge and if so can Oscar roll Lando? What will Kimi do in a dominate Merc – if he gets one? Will George dominate in a dominate Merc? Will Williams snatch a sneaky win or two if the chips fall just right? And fuckin’ Red Bull – it’d be just sooo Max to find himself crowned WDC … in Singapore!! 😆
IF Red Bull have a car, how will Isack fare and how would a disappointing performance be managed in the absence of Marko and under Laurent’s management?
How’s that for a list of possibilities?
Jesus – pick just a few of those potentialities and we have high, high drama. In my opinion the potential for excitement and surprise is high – irrespective of what the cars do. Who knows?, maybe the possibility of car induced shenanigans will just add more interest to the drama.
Bring it on I reckon!
Peter forgot the McLaren Newey designed, I believe it was 2000 or 2001 (I want to say MP4-20?), that basically had to be put on ice for most of the season because it was so problematic. The team ran the previous year's car for most of that season
2003, MP4-18!
Unstable and fragile.
Alas, it never raced.
The error with the 1994 Williams FW16 was the front entry height of the sidepods. If you look at photos when Senna drove the car, the upper edge of the entry starts right alongside the cockpit and arcs out to the sidepod, but by mid season the arc shape is gone and the sidepod angles out in a much more abrupt way, and well back from the cockpit.
Peter I agree, all the elements are there for FA to have a great season. There are a lot of unknowns though given so many changes these new regs bring but I'm not doubting FA's skill or that the Aston won't be a fundamentally good if not great car. Like FA said last season about his 26 prospects/predictions, it will be more telling within the first 3 or 4 races where everyone seems to be in the pecking order and whose done a better job than the other with interprating the new regs then it's more of a matter of seeing where the shortcomings are and what can be done about them over the course of the season. I'm really excited for this new season, can't remember the last time it's been this exciting.
I’m not so optimistic about Aston I can’t say why….
Unless they’re at least three tenths faster than the rest of the grid Alonso won’t win. Extremely intelligent driver but a lot of the technical flaws that come with his very unorthodox style don’t get exposed by the likes of Stroll