The art of patience
Fernando Alonso once again proved that he never fails to deliver sharp and memorable comments, even when he finds himself far away from the front positions. The Spanish driver, currently struggling not because of his own performance but due to a car that is difficult to handle both from a chassis and power unit perspective, still manages to stand out with his trademark sarcasm and clarity.
The Asturian, who recently became a father, was interviewed by Sky Sport F1 at the end of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. During the conversation, he was asked whether becoming a parent might help him develop what was described as “the art of patience.” The question clearly referred to the extremely challenging situation currently faced by Aston Martin, a team that had placed high expectations on this season’s major regulation changes but now finds itself struggling at the back of the grid.
However, the two-time world champion made it very clear that, in his view, patience is not something he needs to learn.
“I think I am the number one in the art of patience,” Fernando Alonso said with confidence. “There are drivers who explode when they don’t even have a car in the top five. I have been fighting for the world championship for 23 years with cars that are not even in the top four,” he added, underlining his long experience in dealing with difficult competitive situations. “So I know quite a lot about patience, and no, [fatherhood] will not change anything.”
A model to follow: McLaren
When discussing Aston Martin’s current situation, Fernando Alonso showed a realistic and grounded perspective, acknowledging that there are no quick fixes available in Formula 1.
“Now we know where we are and we are very far behind,” he explained. “In Formula 1, miracles do not exist, you have to wait a few months.”
Despite the current difficulties, Fernando Alonso pointed to a recent example that offers at least some hope. He referenced McLaren’s 2023 season, when the British team started the year in a very poor position but managed to turn things around significantly by the end of the campaign.
“The most impressive thing we have seen was McLaren in 2023. They started very badly and then by the end of the year they were competitive,” Fernando Alonso said. “In our dreams, we are trying to replicate something similar, starting very badly and maybe by the end of the year having a car that is a bit more competitive.”
For Aston Martin, therefore, the path forward appears long and demanding. The team must rely on development, consistency, and time to close the gap to its rivals. And as Fernando Alonso himself made clear, patience will remain an essential virtue in the months ahead.
Fernando Alonso therefore remains the psychological anchor for an Aston Martin team in transition. Based on the content of his post-qualifying interview, he is prepared to endure a difficult 2026 season as long as the team can emulate the development curve seen by McLaren in recent years.
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