Silly season 2025-2026

[PlatinumZealot]

It's just the Verstappen clan applying pressure to RedBull as they do when the car is not winning.

[Jambier]

I am shocked to be reminded that this season marks 20 years since Alonso's last title win.

So imagine you have 20 chances to land in a winning team, but also for the car to have some amount dominance so you can win the title but somehow... Somehow.. You end of short. This is either crappy luck, poor reading of the game, or shutting your self out of a dominant car by burning bridges.

Alonso has actually come close in those twenty years, but not for having a dominant car, just by driving the nuts off of good cars.

2007. Not dominant car, also lost to team politics.
2008 - lost seat to team politics
2009 - Ignored the call up from RedBull. "just a drinks company" a year earlier
2010 - not dominant car, wrung the neck of a good car. Could have been in RedBull too.
2012 - not dominant car, wrung the neck of a good car Could have been in RedBull too.
2013 - Could have been in a RedBull.
2017 - left Ferrari after 2014 season due to impatience. This car not dominant but could have won in Alonso's hands.
2018 - see 2017
2024 - Possibly could have been in a McLaren, but very slim chance he would have stuck around from 2016 due to the travails that occured.
2025 - see 2024

So that's like 9 out of the 20 years he was close to solid championship chances but lost out to wrong reading of team potential or politics.

Looking ahead he has his hopes in Adrian Newey's Aston Martin and I'm hoping we get to see him fighting for the championship in 2028 or 2029.

People often talks about bad choices but:

- Leaving Renault was not a bad choice. But he was a victime of Denis / Politics etc... at McLaren.
- Going to Ferrari was not a bad choice. But Ferrari... they are always P2 at best.
- Going back to McLaren: Was a gamble. Sticking at Ferrari would have been a better choice but with no titles as well, only more wins.
- Going to Aston: Was a gamble, that worked the first year. Now it is a disaster, but no one could imagine that.

Basically:
- According to rumors he refused Red Bull opportunity: Worst error but again who could have know
- And going back to McLaren was not great either

So no big faults in the end, you need to have luck.

[CHT]

I am shocked to be reminded that this season marks 20 years since Alonso's last title win.

So imagine you have 20 chances to land in a winning team, but also for the car to have some amount dominance so you can win the title but somehow... Somehow.. You end of short. This is either crappy luck, poor reading of the game, or shutting your self out of a dominant car by burning bridges.

Alonso has actually come close in those twenty years, but not for having a dominant car, just by driving the nuts off of good cars.

2007. Not dominant car, also lost to team politics.
2008 - lost seat to team politics
2009 - Ignored the call up from RedBull. "just a drinks company" a year earlier
2010 - not dominant car, wrung the neck of a good car. Could have been in RedBull too.
2012 - not dominant car, wrung the neck of a good car Could have been in RedBull too.
2013 - Could have been in a RedBull.
2017 - left Ferrari after 2014 season due to impatience. This car not dominant but could have won in Alonso's hands.
2018 - see 2017
2024 - Possibly could have been in a McLaren, but very slim chance he would have stuck around from 2016 due to the travails that occured.
2025 - see 2024

So that's like 9 out of the 20 years he was close to solid championship chances but lost out to wrong reading of team potential or politics.

Looking ahead he has his hopes in Adrian Newey's Aston Martin and I'm hoping we get to see him fighting for the championship in 2028 or 2029.

People often talks about bad choices but:

- Leaving Renault was not a bad choice. But he was a victime of Denis / Politics etc... at McLaren.
- Going to Ferrari was not a bad choice. But Ferrari... they are always P2 at best.
- Going back to McLaren: Was a gamble. Sticking at Ferrari would have been a better choice but with no titles as well, only more wins.
- Going to Aston: Was a gamble, that worked the first year. Now it is a disaster, but no one could imagine that.

Basically:
- According to rumors he refused Red Bull opportunity: Worst error but again who could have know
- And going back to McLaren was not great either

So no big faults in the end, you need to have luck.

Alonso may be lucky to have Lance Stroll as teammate instead of some young drivers capable of challenging Alonso's no. 1 status. I think Alonso will be leaving AMR soon as I dont think the team financial situation can justify paying Alonso to be competing at the back of the grid.

Perhaps he may end up at Audi for a couple more years before retirement.

[Chuckjr]

On the flip side he lends credibility and a strong, worldwide, dedicated, fan base that just rakes in money for Aston off track. He is a huge and valuable asset to the team, and actually gives them a credibility they don't deserve at this point. I think they fight to keep him, and his salary is secondary to his intangibles that really, no other driver will bring them. Fred is one of a kind and Newey likes him a lot. Let's hope the upgrades deliver. F1 is better with a competitive Alonso.

[Jambier]

On the flip side he lends credibility and a strong, worldwide, dedicated, fan base that just rakes in money for Aston off track. He is a huge and valuable asset to the team, and actually gives them a credibility they don't deserve at this point. I think they fight to keep him, and his salary is secondary to his intangibles that really, no other driver will bring them. Fred is one of a kind and Newey likes him a lot. Let's hope the upgrades deliver. F1 is better with a competitive Alonso.

I'd like to see him do 2027-2028 and get a race victory with a Newey car, with an Honda engine, before retiring and going to do the Dakar he wants to do again.

Finishing with this year car is to sad.

[Just_a_fan]

Alonso may be lucky to have Lance Stroll as teammate instead of some young drivers capable of challenging Alonso's no. 1 status. I think Alonso will be leaving AMR soon as I dont think the team financial situation can justify paying Alonso to be competing at the back of the grid.

Perhaps he may end up at Audi for a couple more years before retirement.

With Alonso's luck with picking teams, he'll leave and then Aston will start to contend for podiums and even wins...