Fernando Alonso wrapped up the year with a strong result, already looking ahead to 2026 as he aims to help Aston Martin reach a higher level of competitiveness than what the team showed this season.
The grand finale for Alonso
The fight for seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship, still open among several teams heading into the Abu Dhabi weekend, ultimately went the way of Aston Martin. The British outfit, which arrived at the final two rounds carrying the clear frustration of Fernando Alonso, surpassed expectations. This was demonstrated by the two-time World Champion’s performance at Yas Marina, where he delivered an excellent sixth-place finish.
Straight back to work
This result closes the chapter of the 2025 World Championship and the AMR25, a car Alonso criticized on several occasions, especially in the early stages of the season. The new challenge awaiting the 44-year-old driver — who finished tenth in the standings and claimed fifth place in Hungary as his best result of the year — now shifts fully to 2026, when major regulation changes will come into force in Formula 1.
“It’s fantastic to finish the season with a strong sixth place here in Abu Dhabi,” Fernando Alonso said. “Our race pace hasn’t always matched our qualifying performance lately, so delivering a solid Sunday here is very positive. The team has worked incredibly hard over the past few months to achieve this final result, and now it’s time to focus on 2026. There aren’t many breaks. Tomorrow we’ll already be in the factory, in the simulator preparing for 2026. We are committed to having a better season next year. It has been a challenging championship and I want to thank the whole team for their hard work throughout the season. And congratulations to Lando for his first World Championship; it’s a special moment for any young driver, and he deserves it.”
Another point on the board
Aston Martin closes 2025 with another double points finish, repeating what happened in three other Grands Prix before Abu Dhabi. On this occasion, Lance Stroll ended his campaign by crossing the line in tenth place. The Canadian finished the season sixteenth in the standings, tied on points with Yuki Tsunoda.
“It was a fun race, with some great overtakes and a good strategy from the team, and it’s nice to score a point in the last race here at the Yas Marina Circuit,” Stroll explained. “In hindsight, maybe we could have pitted a lap or two earlier and finished even further inside the points. This year has been tough for the team; we weren’t as competitive as we wanted to be, so ending the season with a positive result and seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship is a good way to close things out.”
As the paddock packs up, Alonso’s words ring true: the real work starts now, and 2026 could be the year Silverstone finally delivers on its potential.
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