Alonso on Verstappen: “It’s highly unlikely he’ll join Aston Martin”
In a press conference ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso discussed Aston Martin's mixed start, rumours linking Max Verstappen to the team, and the prospects for the 2026 project. The British team is currently seventh in the constructors' championship, with just 10 points on the scoreboard.
Fernando Alonso spoke at a press conference on Thursday in Jeddah, addressing the difficulties faced by Aston Martin at the start of the season and the speculations about a possible arrival of Max Verstappen in the English team. Despite a complicated start, the 43-year-old driver remains optimistic about the performance of his single-seater on the Saudi circuit.
A car in the learning phase
Asked about the difficulties encountered since the start of the season, Alonso acknowledges that the AMR25 is not yet at the expected level: “The first weekends have not been easy for us, with some challenges related to the new car. But I think the high-speed sections [Jeddah] should suit us a bit better. So yes, we really hope for a better weekend,” he admits.
The Spanish driver identified slow portions as the main weakness of his current car, as well as bouncing issues on certain track sections: “Low-speed corners were probably our weak point on this track. But there are also some concerns about porpoising and other things we face from time to time,” he explained.
As for the possibility of quickly finding solutions, Alonso remains realistic: “I think in Formula 1, there is never a miracle solution to solve these problems. The competitors are strong, they also improve their cars and resolve their issues. It’s always a race off the track to make the car more and more efficient.”
2026, the Priority Horizon
Alonso’s confidence in the Aston Martin project remains intact. This Grand Prix also marks his 50th race with the British team, a journey he describes as incredible, despite the difficult start to the season.
The arrival of star engineer Adrian Newey, who will work exclusively on the 2026 car, as well as the future partnership with Honda for the new technical regulations, are elements that strengthen his conviction in the solidity of the long-term project: « We are a much better team today, much more prepared to fight for world championships than we were two years ago, at a time when we had a very small factory, were using Mercedes’ wind tunnel, and maybe didn’t have the right people or the right partners in the project. », he stated.
The Verstappen rumors: « Very good for the team »
Speculations about a possible transfer of Max Verstappen to Aston Martin have naturally been discussed. Alonso sees this as an encouraging element: “I see them as very positive for the team. The world champion is sometimes linked to other teams and a possible departure from Red Bull, and the teams mentioned are Mercedes, Aston Martin, and Ferrari. This shows the quality of the project we are in and the future this team has ahead.” he commented.
If the Dutchman were to join the team, Alonso says he would welcome him warmly, while judging the likelihood to be low. « Yes, but it’s unlikely. Very unlikely. », he insisted. He also recalls that he has a contract until 2026 and is already considering a role within the team after his driving career. « My contract is much longer than my driving career, so I will stay with this team for many years, in another role. »
At 43, Alonso does not see himself as an active driver until 50 but prefers to evaluate his situation season by season. He has expressed his desire to experience the new regulations of 2026 and Honda’s arrival at Aston Martin.
