Vandorn: Alonso is doing everything he can.

      Aston Martin management has admitted from the outset that it does not have high hopes for this season, because all possible efforts are being directed toward doing the best possible preparation for 2026. That year is supposed to be a breakthrough for the British team, not least because all aspects of the future car’s architecture are being defined by Adrian Newey, the most successful racing designer in Formula 1 history.

      Stoffel Vandoorne has for more than one season combined the role of Aston Martin reserve driver with competing in Formula E and the WEC. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS he spoke about his work.

      “I’m quite comfortable, although in the summer the workload was very high, because work on creating the 2026 chassis is proceeding at an ever-accelerating pace,” the 33-year-old Belgian shared. “The technical regulations will change a great deal, and, in addition, big changes are happening within the team as well, and significant efforts are being directed at that too. But I’m glad to be involved in all of this.

      “Because of all the ongoing and upcoming changes you can only guess how things will turn out, since, in addition to these reforms, we are starting a collaboration with Honda as engine partner. So it’s very difficult to predict what we will achieve, but now Aston Martin has not only all the necessary tools but also the people capable of making the team successful. We hope that already at the very start of next season we will move up to higher positions.

      “Fernando Alonso is still performing at the highest possible level, he remains very motivated and gives 100%. He is doing everything he can, although I repeat, no one guarantees that in 2026 we will show strong results, but it is absolutely certain that we are trying to achieve optimal performance across all of the team’s departments.”

      Vandoorne said a few words about his appearances for Maserati in the electric racing world championship: “This year we had successes and failures, when we let chances for success slip away. However, things are much the same for everyone else.

      “In Tokyo I took my first victory in three years, and that was great — winning is always nice. I know a lot is happening behind the scenes now, but I also know that I have a contract, so next season I will continue to race in Formula E.”