Alonso states it is not Newey's responsibility to 'fix' the 2025 Aston.

      "I’ve never lost confidence"

      Fernando Alonso asserts that it is not Adrian Newey’s responsibility to "fix" the underperforming Aston Martin car for 2025. Last week, in between the Saudi Arabian and Miami Grand Prix weekends, Alonso visited the team’s headquarters in Silverstone and was seen walking through the halls with Newey, the design 'genius' who joined from Red Bull in March.

      "I had lunch with Adrian, and we talked about some things, but not much regarding this year," remarked the two-time champion, who has yet to earn a single point this season, while speaking to Spanish reporters in Miami. "Our discussions were general insights about the team and how he’s felt during his initial weeks at Aston Martin, along with potential changes that could lead to a better future with his expertise," added Alonso, 43. "It’s thrilling to converse with him and work alongside him - it was a fantastic day."

      There is no doubt that the team is significantly underperforming in 2025, especially since the current Aston Martin was developed without any input from Newey. Team principal Andy Cowell is not dismissing the possibility of making some enhancements to the car this season, but he is transparent about the fact that the primary focus is on the 2026 Newey car. "We're investing heavily for next year, so we're not in panic mode regarding this year’s car," he stated. "We are treating this season as a platform to learn how to operate in the new wind tunnel, using new modeling tools and a larger team. Right now, we are using every race to gather data, which is more crucial for us than scoring points."

      Reports have surfaced suggesting that Alonso might be losing motivation to push and race at his limits, along with a general lack of confidence in the whole project. "I’ve never lost confidence," the Spaniard affirmed, adding, "and I’m not particularly worried about 2026. This year is a continuation of some issues we faced over the last two seasons—we didn’t resolve some of those challenges. For next year, with the new regulations and Adrian on board, nothing from this car will be carried into the 2026 project. It’s a complete reset, so I’m not overly concerned."

      However, he admits that an immediate solution for the 2025 car is "not so clear." "There’s nothing we can achieve overnight," Alonso explained. "But we have a better grasp of what we’re missing, our abilities, and how we compare to the top teams. Some of the new personnel have experience from teams striving for championships, so they understand what it takes. We are moving in the right direction, but in F1, changes don’t happen immediately, even if no driver wants to wait for results. You have to find the right balance, practice patience, and maintain high motivation," he noted.

      Despite this, many believe that Newey should invest at least some time applying his renowned design skills to the struggling 2024 car. However, Alonso does not necessarily share this opinion. "I don’t possess the knowledge or experience of a racing designer like him to determine how he should allocate his time," said the winner of 32 Grand Prix races. "He would have preferred to have joined the team a year ago to start on the 2026 project then, so I’m sure he feels he’s already behind schedule. Therefore, I understand why he is concentrating on next year’s car."

      Alonso concluded, "He didn’t design the 2025 car; he didn’t work on it—so I don't think it’s his responsibility to fix it."