There is one simple question that perhaps all of us should ask ourselves when we open our eyes each morning:
“Why am I happy today? What is the reason I’m starting this day?”
Whatever answer we give ourselves lays the foundation for our motivations. It shapes the goals we pursue and helps define the place we seek in the world we have chosen to live in.
Difficult seasons
It is reasonable to imagine that Fernando Alonso asks himself the same question.
A driver of extraordinary talent, a two-time Formula 1 World Champion and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Alonso has now spent far too many seasons playing a supporting role in motorsport’s premier category.
This year, in particular, the disappointing performance of the Aston Martin AMR26 has frequently left him fighting at the very back of the field.
Putting ourselves in his position, it is difficult to find many sporting reasons for optimism. It seems inevitable that Fernando Alonso would feel a sense of disappointment, especially considering the expectations that surrounded Aston Martin heading into the 2026 season.
Under the leadership of billionaire Lawrence Stroll, what many have dubbed the “Ferrari of England” invested heavily in facilities, technology and personnel, bringing together some of the biggest names in Formula 1 with the ambition of transforming the Silverstone-based team into a genuine title contender.
Among them, the arrival that generated the greatest excitement was Adrian Newey. The legendary British designer appeared capable of reigniting dreams and delivering championships once again.
Instead, expectations have largely gone unfulfilled—surely including Alonso’s own. Newey conceived an ambitious car, but one that, much like the mythical story of Icarus, reached too high and ultimately fell short of its lofty aspirations.
New motivations?
Perhaps only by returning to that opening question can we fully understand Fernando Alonso’s recent comments, in which he contradicted Adrian Newey‘s suggestion that the B-spec version of the AMR26—expected to debut in Hungary—would be decisive in determining whether he continues his seemingly endless Formula 1 career.
Instead, Fernando Alonso appears to have found a different answer.
Rather than measuring his happiness solely through the pursuit of victory in Formula 1, he may now be driven by new ambitions and different challenges: completing the prestigious Triple Crown of Motorsport, tackling the Dakar Rally, or simply dedicating himself to helping Aston Martin grow into the team it aspires to become.
Perhaps Fernando Alonso has chosen to find joy elsewhere—to seek fulfilment by leaving a broader and more lasting mark on the world of motorsport.
It is a form of maturity that often comes with age: the ability to dream differently, without ever dreaming any less boldly.
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