Jonas Leo
Double Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso has characterized the forthcoming final two rounds of the 2025 season, held in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, as a "celebration," marking the end of what has been a challenging and underwhelming year for both himself and the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 team. The Spanish veteran, currently positioned 13th in the Drivers’ Championship, three places ahead of teammate Lance Stroll, reflects a broader struggle for the Silverstone-based outfit, which occupies eighth place in the Constructors’ Standings. This concluding phase of the season arrives at a pivotal juncture for Formula 1, preceding the significant technical regulation overhaul scheduled for 2026, a shift that Alonso and Aston Martin are openly prioritizing.
Alonso’s assessment, delivered to DAZN in Las Vegas, underscores a pragmatic approach to the immediate future while signaling a clear strategic focus on the horizon. "It’s two grands prix of celebration, or I take it that way," the 44-year-old stated. "Qatar with the sprint, which we don’t have much time and we can’t sleep because we only have one free practice session and we’re already going to qualifying. And then Abu Dhabi, which is usually a farewell for everybody and a bit of a rest. So I take it as two celebration races, also because we won’t be driving this car anymore, so it has to be a celebration for that reason." This candid reflection highlights not only the demanding nature of the sprint format in Qatar but also the broader relief associated with concluding a difficult campaign.
The 2025 season has presented a stark contrast to Aston Martin’s promising start in 2023, where Alonso secured multiple podium finishes and positioned the team as a genuine contender for top-tier results. His last podium finish dates back to the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix, illustrating the extent of the performance regression experienced by the team. The current ground-effect era, which has defined Formula 1’s technical landscape since 2022, has proven increasingly complex for Aston Martin to navigate, with competitive gains proving elusive throughout 2025. Alonso’s desire to move beyond the current car is indicative of the team’s struggles to extract consistent performance from the AMR25 chassis, particularly as other teams have demonstrated stronger developmental curves.
Alonso’s recent performance trajectory further illustrates the team’s challenges. He currently endures a point-less streak spanning three consecutive Grands Prix, with his 10th-place finish in Austin attributed largely to the retirement of Carlos Sainz rather than outright competitive merit. Reflecting on this, Alonso added, "We have to be realistic, and know that we have been five or six races without scoring or scoring by chance. I think Singapore is the last time we took points in a deserved way, so to come to Qatar and expect to be in the top six or seven is totally illogical." This statement provides a realistic appraisal of Aston Martin’s current competitive standing, acknowledging the performance deficit that has widened since their more competitive early-season form. His teammate, Lance Stroll, has experienced an even more prolonged barren run, failing to score points in the last seven weekends, further emphasizing the collective performance struggle within the team.
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The Aston Martin team’s overall performance in 2025 has been a significant downturn from expectations set by their strong showing in the previous year. After a remarkable start to the 2023 season, which saw Alonso frequently challenge for podiums and the team establish itself as a clear third or fourth fastest, 2024 and subsequently 2025 have seen a regression. The team, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, has invested heavily in infrastructure, including a new state-of-the-art factory at Silverstone and a new wind tunnel, signaling long-term ambitions to contend for championships. However, the immediate returns on this investment have not materialized consistently on track. The team’s eighth-place standing in the constructors’ championship, significantly behind competitors like Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and even Alpine at times, underscores the urgent need for a strategic reset.
The upcoming Qatar Grand Prix, with its demanding sprint race format, presents a unique set of challenges. The condensed schedule, featuring only one free practice session before qualifying, limits crucial setup time and places a premium on immediate car performance and driver adaptability. This format, as highlighted by Alonso, minimizes the opportunity for extensive fine-tuning, potentially exacerbating the competitive disadvantages faced by teams struggling for pace. Following Qatar, the season concludes in Abu Dhabi, a venue traditionally associated with farewells and a sense of closure for the Formula 1 paddock. For Alonso, these races represent not just the end of a season but the closing chapter of a specific technical era and the current car, paving the way for a more optimistic future.
The strategic shift towards the 2026 regulations is a central theme for Aston Martin. These upcoming rules represent one of the most significant overhauls in Formula 1 history. Cars will become lighter and smaller, aimed at improving agility and racing dynamics. Crucially, the power unit regulations will see a dramatic increase in the emphasis on electrical energy, moving towards a near 50-50 split between the internal combustion engine and electrical power. This fundamental change to the powertrain philosophy, coupled with revised chassis and aerodynamic rules, creates a level playing field and an opportunity for teams to make substantial gains if they interpret the regulations effectively. For Aston Martin, who will switch from Mercedes to Honda power units in 2026, this offers a chance to forge a new technical partnership from the ground up, aligning engine and chassis development more closely.
Adding further weight to Aston Martin’s long-term aspirations is the recent announcement that legendary designer Adrian Newey is set to become the team’s F1 boss from 2026. Newey, widely regarded as one of the most successful technical minds in Formula 1 history, brings an unparalleled track record of championship-winning car designs. His arrival, if confirmed and fully integrated, would be a monumental coup for Aston Martin, providing the leadership and technical prowess necessary to capitalize on the new regulations. This strategic recruitment aligns perfectly with Alonso’s decision to commit his future to Aston Martin, suggesting a shared belief in the team’s potential to become a front-runner under the new regulatory framework. Alonso’s contract extension, ensuring his presence until at least the end of 2026, demonstrates his confidence in the team’s trajectory and the allure of the new regulations.
Fernando Alonso’s career, marked by two world championships in 2005 and 2006, is defined by his relentless pursuit of competitive advantage and an unwavering commitment to the sport. His longevity and continued performance at 44 years old are testaments to his dedication. While the 2025 season has not yielded the results he or the team desired, his focus remains firmly on the future. The transition to the 2026 regulations represents a renewed opportunity for a driver of Alonso’s caliber to compete at the sharp end of the grid. His vast experience in adapting to different technical eras and his ability to maximize the performance of any car will be invaluable as Aston Martin embarks on this new chapter.
In summary, the concluding races of the 2025 Formula 1 season in Qatar and Abu Dhabi serve as a functional denouement for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin. While the immediate competitive outlook remains challenging, the team’s strategic gaze is unequivocally fixed on the comprehensive regulation changes of 2026. With significant investments in infrastructure and personnel, including the prospective involvement of Adrian Newey, Aston Martin aims to leverage the upcoming technical reset to propel itself into championship contention, a prospect that has evidently secured Alonso’s continued commitment and provides a tangible reason for him to view the end of 2025 as a stepping stone rather than a conclusion.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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