As the 2024 F1 season hurtles toward its conclusion, veteran racer Fernando Alonso is already setting his sights on a renewed challenge to Max Verstappen’s dominance in 2025. Trailing the four-time champion by a staggering 341 points, Alonso admits that his Aston Martin team is far from competitive this season but hints that the tide could turn with upcoming changes.
“Watching from the Sidelines”
At 43 years old, Alonso remains one of the sport’s sharpest competitors, but Aston Martin’s decline since the Miami GP has left him battling midfield teams like Haas instead of challenging for podiums. Despite a lackluster season, with a best finish of P5 back in March, Alonso remains optimistic about his future.
“So far Max has proven [he doesn’t] have weak points,” Alonso said in Qatar. “He delivers on Sundays, scores points when the car is good, and scores so many points when it’s not. That’s the strength to win a championship.”
While acknowledging Verstappen’s consistency, Alonso suggested that with the right machinery, he could offer the Dutchman a far tougher challenge.
“You always think that if you have a chance, maybe things could be more difficult for him.”
“Eyes on 2025”
Aston Martin has ambitious plans for 2025, including the arrival of technical mastermind Adrian Newey and an exclusive partnership with Honda for the new power unit regulations. These developments fuel Alonso’s hopes of rekindling his championship aspirations.
“That will be a very nice thing—to try to be in a position to fight for the world championship,” Alonso remarked. “At the moment, we are not in that position. Next year will probably be difficult, but in 2025 with the new rules, we’ll have a better chance.”
“A Widening Gap”
The 2024 season has been a painful reminder of the gap between Aston Martin and the top teams. Verstappen has fended off challenges from Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, while Alonso has been left far behind. Even Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, has struggled to make a meaningful impact, scoring just 20 points in the last nine races.
“The Long Road Ahead”
Alonso’s belief in Aston Martin’s future rests heavily on the team’s infrastructure upgrades and the promise of a competitive car under the 2026 regulations. Until then, he remains determined to extract every ounce of performance from his current setup, waiting for his chance to take the fight back to the front of the grid.
If Alonso’s predictions come true, the 2025 season could deliver one of the most thrilling rivalries in modern F1, pitting the seasoned veteran against the reigning king of the sport in a battle for supremacy.