Fernando Alonso, one of Formula 1’s most celebrated veterans, reflected on McLaren’s remarkable 2024 Constructors’ Championship win, a triumph that saw his former race engineer Andrea Stella at the helm. Alonso, who shared a deep bond with Stella from their Ferrari days (2010-2014), applauded McLaren’s turnaround and leadership, drawing parallels to his own bittersweet experience at Abu Dhabi in 2010.
Alonso’s Nostalgic Support for Stella and McLaren
Speaking after the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Alonso didn’t hide his joy for Stella’s success:
“Yeah, fantastic. I’m a good friend of Zak [Brown] and a very good friend of Andrea. In a way, I brought him to McLaren when I joined McLaren. I told him before the race: ‘What Abu Dhabi took from our hands in 2010, hopefully today gives something back to you.’ And it did, so I’m happy for him. He deserves it, he’s a very clever guy, and McLaren is an example for many teams now.”
The Spaniard was, of course, referring to the infamous 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Alonso narrowly missed out on a third world title with Ferrari. A strategic misstep left him stuck behind Renault’s Vitaly Petrov, handing Sebastian Vettel his maiden championship in a dramatic upset.
Lessons for Aston Martin from McLaren’s Resurgence
Alonso, ever the tactician, turned McLaren’s revival into a teachable moment for Aston Martin. After their strong 2023 campaign, where Alonso secured 8 podiums and Aston finished with 280 points, 2024 proved a stark contrast, with the team dropping to fifth place and scoring just 94 points.
Alonso pinpointed McLaren’s transformative upgrade in Austria during the 2023 season as the blueprint Aston Martin must follow:
“The biggest change was last year. McLaren did not do much in 2019, 2020, 2021 or 2022. They did not do much in 2023 until Austria when they were on the podium. In Austria, they introduced a package that gained six or seven tenths, and that was the beginning of a series of packages that made their car the fastest, eventually.”
For Alonso, Aston Martin’s challenge lies in finding their “Austria package”—a game-changing upgrade that can unlock performance and set the team on a trajectory similar to McLaren’s meteoric rise.
“That Austria package, if we want to call it that, is something we need to work on.”
Adrian Newey’s Arrival Offers a Glimmer of Hope
While Aston Martin endured a tough season, Alonso pointed to a key upcoming change that could shift the team’s fortunes: the addition of Adrian Newey in 2025. Newey, F1’s most legendary designer and the architect of Red Bull’s dominant cars, will focus on Aston Martin’s 2026 single-seater under the sport’s new regulations. His arrival signals an opportunity for Aston Martin to leapfrog their rivals and secure a competitive edge.
Looking Ahead
Fernando Alonso’s admiration for McLaren and Stella’s journey comes with a clear message: teams can rewrite their narrative with smart upgrades and bold leadership. As McLaren’s success highlights the rewards of mid-season development, Alonso challenges Aston Martin to find their breakthrough moment. With Adrian Newey’s genius set to bolster their future, the Silverstone-based team has the tools to emulate McLaren’s rise—if they can deliver when it matters most.
For Alonso, the race is far from over, and the blueprint for success is clear. Now it’s up to Aston Martin to seize their moment. Will 2025 be the year Alonso’s dream of podium dominance returns? Only time will tell. 🏎️✨
