Fernando Alonso replies to “rumour” of Adrian Newey's “It’s Not..

Fernando Alonso replies to “rumour” of Adrian Newey’s “It’s Not Just…” read more

Amid growing speculation that Adrian Newey, Red Bull’s outgoing Chief Technology Officer, could be headed to Aston Martin, Fernando Alonso has tempered expectations by reminding everyone that a team’s success cannot rely on just one individual. The rumor mill intensified at the F1 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, with suggestions that Aston Martin might soon announce the signing of Newey, who is set to leave Red Bull early next year.

Newey’s potential move to Aston Martin has been the talk of the paddock, especially as rumors of a switch to Ferrari have faded. Newey is widely regarded as one of the greatest technical minds in Formula 1, and his availability could provide a significant boost to any team aiming for future success. However, Alonso emphasized that solving Aston Martin’s current struggles will require more than just one person.

“Well, there are still only rumors,” Alonso said at Monza when asked about Newey. “I think it’s not just one man’s job to fix things. It’s more about what we have now and what we are producing. Understanding what is going right, what is going wrong, and preparing for 2025 in a better way.”

Alonso’s comments reflect the reality that Aston Martin’s path to success is a complex one. Newey’s arrival would likely impact the design of the team’s 2026 car, coinciding with the introduction of new engine regulations. Aston Martin has made substantial investments in its new Silverstone facility and secured a contract extension for Alonso until the end of 2026. Additionally, they will be partnering with Honda to develop engines for the new era of Formula 1.

But until 2026, Alonso and Aston Martin are facing a tough road. The team currently sits fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, and recent results have been underwhelming. Alonso finished 11th at the Italian Grand Prix, while his teammate Lance Stroll struggled to a 19th-place finish.

Alonso, however, remains pragmatic about the situation. He acknowledged that 2025 could be a transitional year before Aston Martin makes a serious push for success in 2026. “Nothing we can do,” Alonso admitted. “Lance and myself are trying to do the best we can every weekend. One inspired weekend like this one from my side, I know, is going to be completely anonymous. This year, Lance and myself have been very close—two or three seconds away at the end of the race. And today was one of those weekends where I was a little bit better, and I was happy with the car, pushing maybe beyond 100%, and that was P11.”

The double world champion was candid about his frustration but remained hopeful for the future. “We need to be patient,” Alonso said. “We need to understand that the big target is 2026. But at the same time, as a team, we can’t accept not being in the top-four battle. The top teams are well ahead of us, but to be behind Williams, Haas, and others—we need to raise the bar. We need to get better.”

Looking ahead, Alonso believes that Aston Martin still has time to turn things around, pointing to McLaren’s impressive improvement this season. “McLaren improved in four months from last to podium, so we have clear examples,” Alonso noted. “Also, Mercedes started the same as us. We were level with Mercedes for the first four races, and they’ve won three races already this year. So, I’m not a fan of excuses.”

Despite his optimism, Alonso acknowledged that Aston Martin is unlikely to see significant improvements at the upcoming rounds. “Until we have an upgrade on the car, this is what it is, and it’s not good enough,” he admitted. “Not good enough in Monza, not good in Zandvoort, in Spa, in Hungary. So I don’t think there’s going to be a big change in Baku or Singapore or Austin unless we bring new parts.”

Alonso remains focused on the long-term goal, keeping faith in the team’s efforts to improve. “The team is aware of the situation, working flat out. We keep united, we keep pushing,” he concluded. “Last weekend was one point, today was close to two points, and that will be our battle for now.”