Fernando Alonso prepares for yet another home Grand Prix in Formula 1. After a tough start to the season with Aston Martin, the veteran remains optimistic ahead of the Spanish GP.
Speaking during Thursday’s press conference, the hometown hero discussed the pressures of racing at his home circuit as well as the long-term progress of Aston Martin.
Home advantage for Alonso
Alonso is one of two Spaniards taking part in their home race this weekend. Alongside Carlos Sainz, the pair are hoping to provide a good result for their fellow Spanish fans who have supported them continuously. Fernando Alonso is no stranger to a good result in Barcelona, winning the Spanish Grand Prix twice before in his career. However, in 2025, he arrives home under vastly different circumstances. Aston Martin has struggled for form, and Alonso is still searching for his first points of the 2024 season.
“It’s different to all drivers when you race in front of your home crowd. Friends, family are normally in the grandstands or the paddock. You want to deliver something extra at your home race.”
Working toward 2026
While Aston Martin continues to introduce upgrades to their 2025 challenger, including changes at Imola and Monaco, Alonso is realistic about what they can achieve before the regulation overhaul.
“I think the focus is on 2026. But in order to be confident and strong in ’26, you have to build the momentum also in ’25.”
The Spaniard is understanding of the situation that Aston Martin currently finds themselves in. However, it is obvious to both the driver and team that the upgrades brought will not catapult them up into the podium places, but rather boost them into the top ten.
“We understand the situation. We understand where we are in 2025, and whatever we bring to the track will just be a minimum change in terms of positions and finishing order.”
However, these smaller upgrades still serve a purpose to the team in the long run.
“That will give some confidence to the team as well, back in Silverstone and also in our tools to make sure that everything that we are developing in ’26, it makes sense, because we go on track and it delivers the expectations.”
The Newey effect
Adrian Newey officially began his role with Aston Martin at the beginning of March. However, the highly praised engineer made his Aston Martin paddock debut in Monaco. Fernando Alonso believed that his presence alone had already lifted the team, with many excited about what he could help them achieve.
“The level of the team was higher thanks to his presence. Everyone was more focused, more into the details of the car. People that were talking in the meeting knew that they could not say anything too far from the truth because he will spot it.”
However, Newey’s arrival in the team came with some criticism, particularly around the team’s race simulator. The new recruit described some of Aston Martin’s tools as “weak.” In particular, he mentioned the driver-in-the-loop simulator.
Alonso furthered these complaints, stating that this has been a consistent issue Aston has struggled with.
“Maybe it’s the first time that Adrian said it in Monaco. But rest assured that drivers, we mentioned it a couple of times already. I think it will take less than two years to fix our simulator. It’s not new.”
The questionable future of the Spanish Grand Prix
Earlier this year, construction began for the brand new Madrid Ring, as Madrid prepares to host a Grand Prix from 2026. By adding this brand new street circuit to the calendar, it has left much speculation for Barcelona’s long-term future on the F1 schedule.
However, Alonso believes that both races should, and could, coexist. Following the three United States Grand Prix and two Italian Grand Prix.
As Madrid prepares to host a Grand Prix from 2026, speculation has mounted around Barcelona’s long-term future. But Alonso believes both races can—and should—coexist.
“I don’t think that we will lose Barcelona. Barcelona has been here for the last two or three decades, and Barcelona will be here for the next 10, 20, 30, 40 years.
The Aston Martin Driver also expressed his desire to keep historic tracks on the calendar.
It’s good to have new countries… but at the same time, we need to keep some traditional circuits where the history of Formula 1 has been written and made.”
This comes after the Miami Grand Prix was extended until 2041, whereas historic tracks such as Spa-Francorchamps are put on rotation on the F1 calendar.
Alonso’s last year in F1?
While Alonso is committed through 2026, he admitted that stepping away from racing will be one of the biggest decisions of his life. With retirement rumours circulating, Alonso set the record straight.
“I know that a very important decision in life will come for me in the near future when I stop racing. I did my first race in a go-kart at the age of three. I’m 43. So, for 40 years, I have had a steering wheel in my hands… The next one that I take has to be 100% sure.”
Still, Alonso made it clear that he remains energised and motivated for the season ahead.
“I’m just so happy to be there and motivated and performing well… The stopwatch will also tell me when I have to stop. When I finish the race on Sunday, even if the results are not nice at the moment, I’m so motivated to go to the next race and try to overcome the bad race and have a better one.”
