Source – The SportsRush
Fernando Alonso thinks that since his team is now a “team to watch,” the expectations around Aston Martin are typical.
As Aston Martin steps into the 2025 Formula 1 season, the air around Silverstone crackles with anticipation. The team, now under the stewardship of new boss Andy Cowell, has undergone significant transformations, reshaping its structure and welcoming a roster of heavy-hitting names. Yet, for all the excitement that comes with change, Fernando Alonso remains a realist. The two-time world champion has made it clear—he isn’t expecting a miracle leap in performance this year.
Despite major upgrades at the team’s state-of-the-art Silverstone headquarters and a leadership shake-up that includes the arrival of Enrico Cardile as Chief Technical Officer and Bob Bell as Executive Director of Technical, Alonso sees 2025 as a bridge year rather than a breakthrough one. The biggest name joining the project, Adrian Newey, will officially begin his work on March 3rd after parting ways with Red Bull. While the legendary designer’s influence is bound to be seismic, Alonso knows that immediate success is unlikely given the stable regulations for 2025.
Speaking candidly, Alonso dismissed any notion of Aston Martin challenging for the title this season. The cars remain largely unchanged from 2024, making it virtually impossible for his team to close the gap to the frontrunners in a single winter. He remains hopeful that the AMR25 will show an improvement over its predecessor, but the prospect of fighting for a championship is something that must wait. His eyes are firmly set on 2026—the year that could define Aston Martin’s trajectory for years to come.
With a sweeping set of regulation changes on the horizon, 2026 represents the true battleground for Aston Martin’s ambitious project. The arrival of Newey could be the game-changer the team desperately needs. If there’s one name synonymous with F1 dominance, it’s Adrian Newey. From Williams to McLaren to Red Bull, his cars have been the gold standard, and Alonso is well aware of the weight that his presence brings to the team.
Yet, even with Newey in the mix, success in 2026 isn’t guaranteed. The biggest wild card in this equation is Aston Martin’s switch to Honda power. The Japanese manufacturer, returning to F1 as a full-fledged engine supplier, is set to provide Aston Martin with exclusive access to its next-generation power unit. Honda’s track record in the hybrid era has been a tale of two extremes—from early struggles with McLaren to ultimate success with Red Bull. If Honda delivers a masterpiece, Aston Martin could find itself at the forefront of a new era. If it falters, no amount of technical expertise from Newey and Cardile will be able to salvage the situation.
Alonso, ever the competitor, remains hopeful but measured in his expectations. The Spaniard has seen it all in his illustrious career—the highs of championship glory and the lows of unfulfilled potential. He knows that the nature of Formula 1 is unpredictable, and 2026 could be a coin toss for every team on the grid. When asked about his ambitions, he spoke with characteristic honesty, expressing his desire to fight for podiums, wins, and maybe, just maybe, a title once again.
The idea of a dream combination—Newey’s engineering brilliance, Honda’s power, and Alonso’s relentless pursuit of victory—makes Aston Martin one of the most intriguing teams to watch as the 2026 season approaches. The questions will be inevitable. Can this be the project that finally gives Alonso his long-awaited third title? Will Newey’s magic work in a completely different environment? And most crucially, will Honda deliver the power that Aston Martin needs to compete at the very top?
As the 2025 season unfolds, the real test for Aston Martin will be laying the groundwork for what’s to come. Alonso knows that while expectations will skyrocket as 2026 approaches, the real answers will only come when the new era officially begins. For now, all he can do is wait, hope, and keep pushing—because in Formula 1, fortunes can change in the blink of an eye.
