(Motorsport-Total.com) – In the summer, Fernando Alonso wanted to decide whether he would stay with Aston Martin beyond the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Spaniard had placed great hopes in the team when he switched, which, with Adrian Newey and the new regulations, also seemed to be a very promising place. So far, however, the season has been a complete nightmare for the racing team.
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Therefore, there is naturally speculation about whether Alonso, who is soon to be 45 years old, still wants to put up with this, but designer Adrian Newey hopes that the big upgrade planned for the Hungary weekend before the summer break can persuade the two-time world champion to stay.
“Fernando is really looking forward to the upgrade, and if it works, we hope he will sit in the cockpit for another season,” says Newey at AstonMartinF1.com.
Newey: Alonso “enormous asset” for the team
Within the team itself, there is no doubt about Alonso’s performance: “Given his experience, his feel for the car, and his ability to set the direction in development, he is an enormous asset for us,” emphasizes Newey.
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“But he wants to see clear, tangible progress,” he knows and says that the upgrade is “very important” for Alonso. “If we can show that we are decisively moving in the right direction, he fully supports continuing to sit in the cockpit.”
Newey emphasizes that he has had “many conversations” with Alonso and also with Lance Stroll about where the team currently stands and where the journey is headed. He is aware that both drivers are frustrated given the current lack of prospects – and that both have taken this to the media is understandable to him. “They are absolute competitors. They want to fight at the front.”
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In 2027, Aston Martin will be much earlier in the process
Despite the planned Hungary upgrade, the 2026 season seems beyond saving for Aston Martin. The question is, how much ground can be made up with regard to 2027? Work on this is of course already underway, and Newey hopes that next year they will not again fall behind schedule.
“At the moment, it’s about the major architectural decisions: where to place the engine within the wheelbase, how to position the chassis, and the fundamental settings that affect components with very long lead times,” he says about the current status.
“We are looking at concepts for the front and rear suspension, the shape of the gearbox – all the things that have a big impact on aerodynamics.”
“A main goal is to release the ’27 car much earlier in the process for production so that we don’t all put ourselves under the same pressure we had this year,” says Newey. “That should allow us to optimize weight, stiffness, and details much more effectively.”
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