Why Alonso’s Two Titles Don’t Reflect His True Greatness

Fernando Alonso’s legacy in Formula 1 sparks debate: brilliance unmatched, but titles eluded him. Could the future still rewrite his story?

Fernando Alonso’s Great Paradox: The Spaniard could likely have won three or four titles in his career… yet the current Aston Martin F1 driver has only two, secured with Renault F1.

His first career teammate at Minardi, Tarso Marques, is among the many who believe Fernando Alonso deserved at least three or four championships.

“Fernando deserves more titles than he has. Those two world titles are fantastic, but they don’t truly reflect the extent of his talent.”

How does Marques place Fernando Alonso in the history of the sport? Would he compare Alonso to his compatriot Ayrton Senna?

“I’m a fan of Ayrton Senna, like all Brazilians, and there are modern legends like Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, and now Max Verstappen. It’s very hard to compare drivers across eras, but I think Fernando is as good as them, if not better.”

“If I had to choose a driver for my team, I would pick Fernando. I think he was better than Schumacher when they raced against each other, and, even if Brazilians might be upset, I’d say he’s also better than Senna.”

“Senna was incredible, a natural talent, but the truth is, he made more mistakes than Fernando. Fernando quickly learned to drive not just fast but smartly – something I would also say about Hamilton.”

“Fernando is probably the greatest, alongside Hamilton. I think Fernando should have as many titles as Hamilton – he just never had the right car at the right time. He deserves far more championships than he has.”

A title in 2026?

Fernando Alonso likely won’t claim a third title… unless Newey performs miracles with Aston Martin F1 in 2026.

If he has the car needed to fight for the championship, Fernando Alonso will seize the opportunity, according to Marques.

“The car needs to be good enough, but Fernando keeps showing he can beat anyone with the right equipment. F1 is hard to predict, especially with rules and regulations changing so often, but he has demonstrated at Aston Martin what he’s still capable of. 2023 was a great year, and I was expecting a win because he came so close.”

“The future looks very promising for Aston Martin Aramco. Adrian Newey joining the team is massive.”

“Of course, it will be a challenge to get everything working perfectly right away, but now Aston Martin Aramco has a strong driver lineup with Lance and Fernando, combined with F1’s best designer – the team has a brilliant package.”

“And I think Adrian’s arrival could encourage Fernando to stay in F1 longer. He still has the pace, so I’m sure that with a fast car, it will motivate him to continue for a few more years. It could be incredible.”