Alonso: “Very few people understand Newey”
The Spaniard returns to Zandvoort after recovering from a muscle injury. “Perhaps one of the next 10 races will be like Hungary,” he told AS USA.
After battling a nagging lower back injury sustained during the Belgian and Hungarian Grands Prix, Fernando Alonso is back in action at Zandvoort. As AS USA reports, the two-time world champion has made seat adjustments to address a recurring issue and is aiming to replicate his impressive top-five finish from the Hungaroring.
Can Alonso keep the momentum going in the final stretch of 2025?
“It’s hard to say,” Alonso admitted. “Our pace in Budapest was a surprise—we were just a tenth and a half off pole and finished fifth. I think it came down to the track’s characteristics, because the week before in Spa, we finished last.”
Looking ahead to the final 10 races of the season, Alonso remains cautiously optimistic: “It’ll depend on the circuits. Maybe one of them suits us better, and if that happens, we’ll try not to waste the opportunity.”
Alonso’s team has clawed its way up to sixth in the constructors’ championship and is now eyeing fifth place, currently held by Williams. “That’s the goal—we don’t want to do worse than previous years,” Alonso said. “We’ve finished fifth two years in a row. This season started off terribly, and we thought fifth was out of reach. But now it’s back on the table. Still, whether you finish third, fifth, or sixth doesn’t really matter. In Formula 1, you either win or you don’t. And this year, we’re not winning the title.”
A better finish in the standings would also mean fewer wind tunnel hours compared to direct rivals—a strategic advantage under F1’s current development regulations.
AMR25 showing progress
The Aston Martin AMR25 has made strides thanks to recent upgrades, including a new floor introduced in Imola and a front wing from Spa. But Alonso is quick to acknowledge that not all updates have delivered.
“You learn from mistakes—from everything that didn’t work. But it’s not ideal to bring upgrades that don’t perform as expected. When that happens, you have to backtrack and figure out where the error was. Even if we learn from it, it shouldn’t happen in the first place. This is Formula 1—it’s not a classroom,” he explains.
Adrian Newey Effect: learning from a legend
At Aston Martin’s Silverstone HQ, the focus has already shifted to the 2026 car, with legendary designer Adrian Newey steering the vision. Alonso offered insight into Newey’s enigmatic brilliance:
“The more time you spend with him, the more you understand how he works and tackles challenges—the day-to-day grind of F1. But he’s a very special person. Very few people truly grasp what Newey is thinking or doing. We’re in the phase of learning from him—every conversation, every idea, every comment. That’s how we grow as a team.”
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