What does Fernando Alonso think about the F1 2026 regulations as he waits for the Spanish GP?

At Organized by Aramco event before Spanish GP this weekend, Fernando Alonso he took the time to talk HOW on its circumference La Morgalin a space full of go-karts, while several students explore the facilities and museum.

The two-time champion answered questions about his future at Aston Martin, his views on the current F1 market and the upcoming 2026 regulations.

What Fernando Alonso thinks about the F2026 regulations 1

When you last renewed your contract, you said that the Formula 1 atmosphere was not for you because of the excess of luxury and everything related to racing. Here you are at home.

Yes, this is more in line with what I experienced growing up. I love motorsports, but without the excesses of Formula 1. This does not mean that I do not benefit from it and do not lead a comfortable life, that I do what I like, which is racing on the biggest stages of racing, and that I like what it’s happening there. But it’s good to disconnect and see the dirt and smell the gasoline. It’s reassuring.

“What does karting give you?” It’s a clean car, no packaging.

This helps me stay fit and maintain my reflexes. The movements in karting are more abrupt, everything is more direct for the driver, driving sensations and senses are awakened. Besides, I can come to Asturias and meet my friends and family. It resets me after three months of living in a bubble, traveling between China, Japan, Miami, airports, five-star hotels, travel… everything F1. Then I come here to Asturias to spend time with my family and focus on the true values ​​of life.

When you work with kids on campus, how can you explain to them that the special thing about a driving career is winning? That it is normal in elite sport to lose?

One of the biggest challenges we face is communicating this concept to students on campus and to parents visiting the circuit. Generally speaking, sports are more about failure than victory. A footballer will play thousands of matches and be lucky to win half of them, but a driver will organize hundreds of races to win five or six. And this, when you are a child or a parent and your child rides karting, is very difficult to communicate due to excessive emotions. You try to convey this message with the right words. Racing must be a hobby, for example when you play padel, tennis or football on the weekends. Let the pressure come later, not when they are children.

How many great races go unnoticed because you’re fighting for seventh or eighth?

Many. During the year, of the 24 races, six are completed almost perfectly. Of those six, five go unnoticed by the public because you don’t make it to the podium and you’re not on TV. On the other hand, there are times when you have the right car and you are always on the podium or in the spotlight, and you are praised for races where you made three or four mistakes that went unnoticed. You reap rewards when you don’t deserve them, and you don’t reap them when you deserve them.

When you left F1 in 2018, or even when you came back in 2021, did you expect that you would have such a long chance at a second chance, at least until 2026?

No, definitely not. When I returned to Alpine, I thought I would work for two years, wait for the regulations to come into force in 2022 and see how things go. Ultimately, I intend to adopt the 2026 regulations. Of course I didn’t expect it. However, it is difficult to plan a career in sports, especially in racing, where so much depends on the vehicle. I was doing very well in 2021 and 2022, I was expecting to renew my contract for 2023. This year 2023 was exceptionally good and now in 2024 I am still strong and feel motivated, so I am curious to try the 2026 cars. That wasn’t my plan when I came back to F1. If I didn’t feel 100% comfortable, Alpine would be my last step.

How much does struggling to win a few races last year make you want to keep racing?

It has an impact. When you don’t have the right tools, you’re at the back of the pack and things aren’t going well, your motivation is never the same, no matter how competitive you are. Without results and incentives, it is difficult to maintain the same level of commitment and dedication. Last year’s podium and fighting for victories made me want to extend my career by two or three years.

The driver market has been interesting lately, with several good teams having vacancies in their teams. Why were you so sure of what you wanted to do and not be swayed by team principals who might have wanted to keep you as a backup option?

Making the right choice is always a challenge and no one can predict the future, especially with the new regulations coming into force in 2026. I am fortunate to have had the freedom to make my own decisions throughout my career. The current driver market is volatile as drivers have limited control over their options and teams maneuver strategically. The waiting period can be stressful for drivers because they are unsure of their future. I had the option to stay with Aston Martin, who were keen for me to continue. I looked around for other teams that could potentially offer a better package, but the prospects were uncertain or required a long wait. Ultimately, I decided to stay at Aston Martin because they really wanted to work with me.

In 2023, eight podiums. In 2024, the situation is different. Do you see progress in Aston Martin?

Yes. Yes, I see progress. The eight podiums we achieved last year were exceptional, especially considering we finished fifth in the Constructors’ Championship. This isn’t something that happens often. In fact, it will be interesting to see how many drivers manage to score eight podiums this year with a car that only finishes second, third or fourth. It’s not easy to get eight podiums, let alone the fifth best car in the championship. But we will keep trying. I don’t know if we’ll be able to get eight again this year, but the season is long. We learned a lot about the car, which we need to put into practice. There are no quick solutions in F1. It can take three weeks to design, produce, test and implement a new part in a car. As a driver or fan you may not always understand this because you want everything done yesterday.

How to build a winning team in F1? Luck aside, what elements or factors are controllable and which are present in an Aston Martin?

Investments are a must. Huge investments are needed to have top-class factories and tools. Then you need employees who are committed to the team and are pulling in the same direction. And then, as a group, when you have 1,000 people working in an organization, you need them all in the right place. Sometimes the defender plays on the left wing and the striker plays as the goalkeeper and you realize it too late. It takes time to identify the best potential among the thousands of people we work with, which is why teams with high stability like Red Bull and Mercedes are teams with a great method that takes a lot of work.

If you suddenly have a car that will be able to consistently win races starting next year or 2026, do you have any doubts about your ability to perform at your best and extract the maximum potential from the car?

NO.

Considering Verstappen’s level?

In such conditions, Verstappen would certainly be a difficult competitor. But I also have a lot of self-confidence. Verstappen has proven that he is perhaps the only driver who can perform well even in difficult conditions, so he would be an extremely difficult driver to beat. But I have confidence in myself.

There is a lot of discussion about the technical regulations for 2026. Would you like to see a change in sports regulations that places more responsibility on the driver?

Certainly, but that’s the nature of F1. I wish there was more design freedom. All cars today look very similar. There is little creativity. When I was a kid, F1 cars were completely different. One with a high nose, one with a low nose, the third with six wheels. That creativity has now been lost and I would love to see it again.

Cars without radio…

They tried this many years ago, taking the radio on formation laps and giving the driver more autonomy. But we see that in 2024, with today’s engine complexity, the radio cannot be picked up because these are very complicated vehicles even to run. There must be consistency in what you do. Like now, the introduction in 2026 of an engine that weighs 40 kilograms more due to the additional battery and a larger electrical part, but at the same time they want to reduce the overall weight of the cars; it’s all a bit inconsistent.

Do the 2026 regulations catch your attention?

Not excessively. I don’t think these are radical changes. It will be marketed as such because F1 sells itself every four or five years as reinventing itself, but overall F1 remains very similar. However, it attracts other manufacturers such as Audi; interest from other engine manufacturers was driven by commercial interests. However, I don’t think that races, weekends or the competitiveness of cars will be revolutionized.

We’re getting to 2024. We’re coming from four or five races that were more competitive. Not as competitive as in 2023 when you were just behind Red Bull. What do you think about the current competition and how do you think Aston Martin can progress into the top four?

Well, this is a challenge. Last year, Red Bull was in the lead and we had a chance of a podium finish against a weakened Ferrari and Mercedes and a McLaren that was progressing. If we want to make a big step forward in terms of performance this year and fight for the podium, we need to overtake three high-level teams. This is what we are facing. However, more competition at the top is beneficial, and having more teams fighting for victory is also beneficial for us as there will be more tension and activity between them, and hopefully we can take advantage of the chaos.