Why Alonso’s Milestone Matters More Than Mexico's Results

Fernando Alonso’s 400th F1 Grand Prix is a testament to his enduring passion, experience, and unique legacy in motorsport.

This Grand Prix in Mexico is unlikely to be remarkable at all for Aston Martin F1, which has spent the end of the year counting its losses.

However, this weekend will be special for Fernando Alonso, as he reaches an extraordinary milestone: 400 Grands Prix in F1 (even though it will technically be his 397th start).

The Spaniard is, of course, the most experienced driver in the history of F1, maintaining his passion and performance. But what makes him so special?

“That’s a question many in the F1 paddock could answer,” smiles his team principal at Aston Martin F1, Mike Krack.

“He’s worked with numerous teams, and we have the privilege of organising this celebration. But above all, it’s a tribute to all those who have worked with him over the years. It’s an incredible career in itself—over 20 years, 400 entries [actually 397 starts, editor’s note].”

And yet, Fernando Alonso will probably be competing in this Grand Prix from the middle of the grid at best…

“I wish I could give him a winning car on Sunday, which won’t be easy,” admits Mike Krack.

“But when you see his level of performance at this advanced stage of his career, it’s impressive. If you’re looking for characteristics, there are many adjectives, but you have to highlight the talent—shared by many, of course—but also the discipline and, above all, the competitive drive. Fernando is hyper-competitive, extremely disciplined, and exceptionally talented.”

Fernando Alonso was unwell and missed Thursday’s media day but managed to drive in Free Practice 2. Is he fully recovered?

“Yes. We were in constant contact. He’s fine and will be driving as usual.”

An Aston Martin F1 That Struggles to Take Off

Otherwise, there is little to celebrate at Aston Martin F1. The upgrade package introduced in Austin failed to deliver the expected performance. Is there still untapped potential in the car’s setup?

“If you look at it, it was a Sprint weekend. We decided to start with both cars identical, incorporating all the upgrades,” explains Mike Krack.

“But it wasn’t straightforward. We tried stiffening and softening the car, experimenting with different setups, but we didn’t really achieve the expected performance. It was a tough weekend. So we said, ‘OK, let’s head to Mexico with more work to do.’ You probably noticed both cars were equipped with large sensors. They will also run different setup configurations during FP2. It’s about understanding what we haven’t grasped yet to improve further.”

Now that Aston Martin F1 is almost certain to finish 5th in the Constructors’ Championship, the latter half of the season has become a significant testing ground for next year…

“Yes, that’s true for most teams unless they have specific championship ambitions. The goal is to learn as much as possible. But we’re not just here to learn. When Saturday and Sunday come around, we need to be in race configuration with the best possible car. Friday is ideal for experimentation and preparing for the future, but over the weekend, we focus on what’s fastest.”

Andy Cowell, the new CEO of the group overseeing the F1 team, made his first appearance with the team in Austin during the race weekend.

“It was extremely beneficial to have Andy with us at Austin so he could observe our operations on the track,” says Mike Krack about his direct superior.

“He had already been at the factory for a few weeks. It’s primarily about meeting the teams and understanding our way of working. I’m very optimistic about how things are progressing so far. Andy has a calm, structured, and fact-based approach, which is very promising. From the initial discussions, I can better understand why he was so successful in his previous roles (with Mercedes F1 in the engine department, editor’s note).”