(Motorsport-Total.com) – The Formula 1 world is not only looking at the top at the Hungarian Grand Prix next weekend (all sessions in the live ticker!). Because at least as great is the interest at the back of the field, where Aston Martin is bringing its first update package of the season – and thus wants to initiate the hoped-for turnaround.
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But regardless of how the first races with the comprehensively revised AMR26 go, the update should have no influence on Fernando Alonso’s future. “Not at all, because my decision does not depend on this year’s performance,” the two-time world champion clarified last weekend in Belgium.
“We got off to a false start this year, and I cannot base my decision for next year on a performance that does not reflect reality.” Alonso had already made a similar statement around his home race in Barcelona.
“My decision for next year is more about the regulations. Driving these cars on tracks like Spa or Silverstone is not what I dream of for my future,” the Aston Martin driver now says again. “So we’ll see.”
Alonso’s Future: Aston Martin Update Decisive After All?
Nevertheless, it seems hard to imagine Alonso hanging up his helmet precisely at the moment when the “Newey-Honda” project begins to unfold its true potential. Lawrence Stroll would see confidence in the investments made confirmed, and write off the first six months of the season as a blip.
“We had great hopes for these regulations – and of course also for Adrian’s move to the team, for Honda and all these things,” Alonso now openly admits. “So expectations were very high, but they were not met.”
“It wasn’t necessarily ‘hard’, but it was disappointing. At the same time, however, everyone in the team understood this as a challenge and is determined to achieve success. They are working to get back on their feet, and hopefully Budapest is the first step towards the desired performance.”
“It’s about coming back – and I hope the team is heading in the right direction with this.” However, should the opposite happen and the announced update also not bring decisive progress, that would not automatically mean the end of Alonso’s Formula 1 career.
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Alonso’s move to Alpine really conceivable?
After all, the Spaniard has been linked with a move to Alpine for weeks. Such a step would not be easy – also because of Alonso’s high salary. However, the new sponsorship agreement with the Gucci Group could provide Alpine with additional financial leeway to enable an agreement.
Such a transfer could also trigger a domino effect in the driver market. At the Spa weekend, Franco Colapinto was already seen having dinner with Williams team boss James Vowles. In addition, another meeting between representatives of both sides was reported on Saturday morning.
A development that could be explained if Alonso were indeed to move to Alpine: Colapinto would lose his place at the French team because Pierre Gasly is set for the long term, while a return of the Argentinian to Williams could be considered an obvious solution.
Then only the last piece of the puzzle would remain: the question of who would succeed Alonso at Aston Martin. In recent days, the name Carlos Sainz has been mentioned again. In the paddock, however, Esteban Ocon is also considered a possible candidate, who is on the brink at Haas.
Sainz is also still linked with Audi, although Nico Hülkenberg currently has a valid contract until the end of 2027. An existing contract would not be an insurmountable obstacle, but it would inevitably make such a move more expensive.
The debut of the “new” AMR26 could thus become one of the most important dates of the season – even off the track. Not only the future of the project in Silverstone could depend on the competitiveness of the Aston Martin, but also the first real domino effect that could decisively shape the driver market for 2027.
Read more Live on TV and Stream: All information on the Formula 1 broadcast in Hungary