F1: Fernando Alonso Remains Hopeful for a Third World Championship
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New Delhi, Dec 11 (NationPress) The 43-year-old Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso is still aspiring for his third World Championship, having last claimed the title in 2006.
"I still dream. Why not? I know 2026 is likely my only shot because 2025 poses significant challenges, but I am still dreaming. F1 is for dreamers, after all, as anything can transpire. Let's see," Alonso was reported as saying by BBC.
Alonso's expectations are elevated as Adrian Newey has secured his long-term commitment with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team for 2025. Newey's transition to the British automotive brand was made public in September.
Throughout his illustrious career in Formula One, which has earned him the title of one of the greatest F1 designers ever, Newey has collaborated with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull teams. Cars designed by Newey have clinched 13 drivers' championships and 13 constructors' titles.
Alonso expressed that Newey's arrival feels like ‘destiny’ after they had nearly collaborated on multiple occasions in the past.
"Expectations will be high because it is a new car, a shift in regulations, and a vehicle crafted by Adrian. This will probably be my last season in F1, at least to start with, as my contract concludes at the end of 2026. The time for delivering and facing reality is now. High expectations await.
"Destiny. It seems like destiny that I was always missing the opportunity. But he has arrived now at the twilight of my career, and I will enjoy it as much as I can, striving to learn from him.
"We share a mutual respect. We have exchanged messages and conversed occasionally, and it feels like we have always connected. Although we have never worked together, we have always resonated on the same frequency during our past discussions. I am looking forward to the future. For Aston Martin, this is a significant development," Alonso added.
Newey will be joining a team that has already made substantial progress in recent years, with the hiring of top engineers, a state-of-the-art new factory, and a partnership with Honda for a works engine starting in 2026.
Anticipations indicate that Aston Martin could present one of the quickest cars in the 2026 season, positioning Alonso favorably to contend for his third World Championship.
"Throughout my career, I have driven cars that may not have been the best at the time, including during my two World Championships. In 2005, the McLaren was the fastest car but suffered from reliability issues, allowing us to compensate and secure the championship.
"In 2006, they were quite comparable, but Ferrari and Michael [Schumacher] faced excessive DNFs, particularly in Japan at the season's end, enabling me to claim the championship.
"I remain driven and motivated, and I don't feel like I'm just going in circles because every year, I still hold hope that this could be the season I finally have a fast car," concluded Alonso.
