Count only winning
Curiosity was high to hear Fernando Alonso’s thoughts during the FIA press conference in Shanghai. In a moment of severe crisis for the Aston Martin-Honda partnership—which Alonso had hoped would bring him back to the top of Formula 1, taking advantage of this year’s regulatory revolution—the two-time world champion seemed determined to embrace the role of team man. Yet the Spanish driver did not hold back from taking a few jabs at journalists and others in the process.
“Am I in a ‘difficult mental phase,’ as Newey said? I would say it’s less harsh than people think,” Fernando Alonso clarified. “I mean, it’s not an ideal situation. We all want to win. This year there are 22 drivers. One will win and 21 will be in a difficult mental state, because for me finishing third, fifth, or seventeenth doesn’t matter much. I’ve been fortunate and privileged to experience different eras in Formula 1, to enjoy driving, and ultimately I’ve been extremely lucky to have competitive cars for half of my career and to stand on the podium over 100 times. So for me, finishing anywhere other than first now feels the same kind of pain. Obviously, we’re on this journey with the team, and it’s not an ideal start, but this is the first year of the Aston Martin-Honda collaboration, and we need to get through this moment. And I’m ready to help as much as possible.”
The precedent from 10 years ago
This attitude seems very different compared to Fernando Alonso’s stance a decade ago, again regarding Honda, when the Japanese manufacturer partnered with McLaren in what ultimately became another epic failure. “Now I think I can see things with a different perspective and maturity, but I don’t think things were really that dramatic ten years ago either,” Alonso stated. “This is Formula 1, and it’s a sport very much focused on the media. When you win a championship simply racing against your teammate, you’re a god; when you struggle and go through a tough period, everything gets amplified.”
“After 10 years, maybe some of the things people thought of me back then, when we were in this situation, have changed,” Fernando Alonso added. “Now perhaps they think I was right ten years ago. Because for me, the biggest surprise was realizing that ten years ago, McLaren, Stoffel [Vandoorne], Jenson [Button], myself—because people always seem to remember only Fernando, but I think we all said the same thing—we were saying that the project, the power unit, wasn’t mature enough. Now that’s something everyone seems to understand. But back then, it seemed like I was crazy for criticizing. I think this came from moments of frustration over the radio, which yes, existed: as a two-time world champion and competitive driver, I wasn’t happy with the situation. Now it seems that when everyone sees the current situation, they are a bit more supportive and understand the problems better. What I can do in the team is simply work harder, try to help Honda as much as possible. We are a team: it’s a difficult start, but I hope it doesn’t last too long. However, I know there won’t be an immediate solution either.”
Fernando Alonso’s words in Shanghai reflect a man who has traded youthful fire for a calculated, veteran stoicism. While the AMR26 continues to struggle with the reliability and “vibration” issues mentioned by Honda’s engineers, Fernando Alonso is choosing to protect the project rather than tear it down—at least for now. By framing his current lack of results as a collective pain shared by 21 other drivers, he cleverly shifts the narrative away from individual failure and toward a long-term technical climb. As the Chinese Grand Prix gets underway, the focus won’t just be on the stopwatch, but on whether Honda can provide Alonso with a car that justifies his newfound patience. One thing is certain: Fernando is still the master of the microphone.
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