Alonso Plays It Cool as Aston Martin Targets 2026 Surge

Fernando Alonso stays calm ahead of China, backing Aston Martin’s steady progress—and Newey’s influence—for a serious 2026 title push.

As expected, Aston Martin F1’s performance in Australia wasn’t spectacular, but it wasn’t disappointing either.

Without damage to his floor in Q2, Fernando Alonso could have easily made it into Q3. Meanwhile, teammate Lance Stroll delivered a clean, consistent race, finishing sixth and scoring valuable points for the team.

Alonso, on the other hand, had a solid run before making an uncharacteristic mistake during changing conditions—a rare slip-up from the seasoned Spaniard.

Heading into the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, Alonso remains focused on the positives. The team is firmly in the midfield battle, and the car is showing signs of promise.

“It’s hard to say exactly where we stand,” Alonso admitted. “Qualifying was going well until the damage in Q2—we were competitive. But in the race, it was more about survival. We followed the car ahead, managed tires, and waited for the track to dry. It felt more like a waiting game than a proper race.”

Overtaking was difficult in Melbourne, with Alonso noting how limited the dry racing line was: “We probably had more pace than the cars ahead, but there was just no room to pass.”

Tire degradation? Yes, it was a challenge—“but that’s always the case when you’re following someone,” Alonso said. “Still, qualifying pace was a bit stronger than expected—better than what we saw in Bahrain.”

Despite the tricky conditions and some missed opportunities, Alonso remains upbeat. “It was a tough race for everyone, but Lance did a great job. Eight points for the team—it’s a solid start.”

On Red Flags and Safety Cars – Was Alonso Concerned?

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When asked about the decision not to red-flag the race while recovery vehicles were on track, Alonso kept things diplomatic.

“I don’t know the full details, so it’s hard to comment,” he said. “Melbourne isn’t the easiest track for clearing cars. At some point, they have to go out there. But we now have a different system—behind the Safety Car and in yellow flag zones, you have to stick to a minimum lap time. So if drivers follow that, it should be safe. I get the concern, but I don’t think anything was out of control.”

Looking to China – Can Alonso Repeat His 2024 Success?

In last year’s Chinese GP, Alonso qualified third in both wet and dry conditions. Could he repeat that form this time?

“I’m not sure. We started stronger last year, especially in qualifying. So repeating P3 might be tough. But we’ll do our best. I’d love to score my first points of the season. Shanghai is one of the best tracks of the year—drivers love it. I’m excited.”

Eyes on 2026 – Alonso Ready to Build With Newey

While 2024 is just getting underway, Aston Martin has one eye firmly on 2026—when a brand-new car, built under the guidance of legendary designer Adrian Newey, will hit the track.

Has Alonso already started working with Newey?

“We haven’t had in-depth discussions yet—things have been hectic with testing in Bahrain, Australia, and now China,” Alonso explained. “But once we’re back at the factory, I hope we’ll sit down properly. What I can say is, he’s super motivated and already deeply involved in the 2026 project. He’s watching everything we do, every weekend.”

The two already share a mutual understanding, built over years of racing and past conversations.

“I know how he thinks, how he works. We’ve talked a lot—we even had lunch together at the Monaco Historic GP last year. I know what he can bring to the table, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

Bortoleto & Alonso: A Unique Driver-Manager Duo Having Fun and Eyeing the Future

Gabriel Bortoleto made quite an entrance at his first Formula 1 Grand Prix in Australia last weekend. Not only did he outperform his more experienced teammate Nico Hülkenberg by reaching Q2, he also proved that Sauber isn’t as far off the pace as some feared after winter testing.

The race itself was tougher. The Brazilian rookie ended his day in the barriers, but overall, his performance—and the car’s—showed promise.

Heading into his second Grand Prix this weekend in China, Bortoleto feels more confident.

“Overall, it was a solid weekend. Qualifying was good, practice sessions were productive, and I kept improving every session. I pushed a bit too hard in Q2, and the race… well, that was crazy,” he said.

“I’ve heard some drivers say there won’t be many races tougher than that one in their careers—switching from slicks to inters, back to slicks, and then rain again. So much happened, but I learned a lot: when to push, when to hold back, how to take risks. And I had a few on-track battles, which helped me start understanding how F1 racing works in real-time.”

From Manager to Mentor to… Rival? The Alonso-Bortoleto Dynamic

Bortoleto is managed by none other than Fernando Alonso through his A14 Management company. And after Melbourne, the two shared a fun and heartwarming moment during a joint press conference.

“He was super impressive—but not a surprise,” Alonso smiled. “He’s the best of the new generation—well, him and Ollie! He worked really hard all winter, and Melbourne is not an easy place to debut. The race was a big test, and he handled it well. It’s just the beginning of a long journey.”

Sitting next to him, Bortoleto fired back with a grin:

“He’s only this nice because there are cameras!”
Then more seriously: “Honestly, I’m really grateful for everything A14 has done for me. Fernando’s advice helped get me to F1. I’ll keep working hard. This is just the start. I’m happy with how we kicked things off, but I know there’s still a lot of work and learning ahead.”

Bortoleto & Alonso: F1’s Most Unlikely Power Pair Bortoleto & Alonso: F1’s Most Unlikely Power Pair

When the Manager Becomes the OpponentWhat happens if Alonso and Bortoleto go wheel-to-wheel on track?

“There’s a clear rule,” joked Alonso. “I stay in front!”
Then, more thoughtfully: “We’re super proud of Gabriel at A14. This year will probably be the first in a while where he’s not winning every race, so that’s part of the learning curve. I’ve been helping him with everything—track preparation, media, rest, race weekends… but at the end of the day, performance comes down to the team, the car, the full package. I’m just giving him tools, not shortcuts.”

Bortoleto chimed in again:

“According to my contract, he has to give me a tow every time in qualifying!”
Laughs aside, he added: “Fernando has really helped me understand how to manage race weekends—from Thursdays to Sundays, how to focus only on what matters. It’s been great so far. In Australia we didn’t get to fight on track, but maybe in China, we will. I’ve watched him race all my life. Now, being in F1 with him—and having him as my manager—it’s pretty special.”

Brake and Suspension Issues Still Under Investigation

On a more serious note, Bortoleto also spoke about the technical issues he faced during the race in Melbourne—especially with the brakes and suspension.

“The brake problem was real—I mentioned it from Lap 1. Anyone listening to my radio or watching the race could hear that. I won’t go into technical details, but it was a genuine issue.”

“As for the suspension, we’re still not sure. There was a slight contact with Nico in Turn 3—very light. I didn’t even feel it, but reviewing the footage, we saw he had some oversteer and clipped my rear tire. Maybe that caused the damage, maybe not. The team’s still analyzing it back at the factory. We’re also trying to figure out if that had anything to do with my earlier spin, or if that was just me hitting the kerb too hard.”

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Bortoleto & Alonso: F1’s Most Unlikely Power Pair. Bortoleto & Alonso: F1’s Most Unlikely Power Pair