Fernando Alonso is convinced that he is still ‘the best driver’ in Formula 1. The 44-year-old Spaniard is by far the oldest driver on the grid; 2026 will mark his twenty-sixth season in the top class. Two decades ago he won his last world title and his most recent Grand Prix victory dates back to 2013. Nevertheless, Alonso feels no need to prove himself – he is simply waiting for a car that can bring him back to the top.
Read more Cadillac clarifies cause of Pérez front suspension collapse: ‘Seemed worse than it was’
Initially, Alonso had pinned his hopes on 2026 and the new F1 regulations. After all, Aston Martin had one of the most renowned designers in the history of the sport: Adrian Newey. However, it soon became clear that the new regulatory era would not be a miracle cure for now; the problems with the brand-new AMR26 piled up, not to mention the glaring lack of speed. During the race weekend in Montreal, Alonso was asked how he assesses his own performance in a non-competitive car.
“I don’t assess anything at all, I am the best,” he responded, as sharp as ever. “I don’t need to prove anything and I don’t need to feel anything to know that I am still at the right level.” Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to stay motivated when you are at the back, with no prospect of fighting at the front of the field. “Waiting for opportunities and trying to help the team is what keeps me going,” the veteran explained. “And making sure we don’t lose that competitive spirit – which you absolutely need in Formula 1.”
Read more Sainz stops ‘complaining about 2026 regulations’: ‘Hope placed on next year’
Other racing categories
Alonso has his own ways of doing that. “Driving in different categories, different cars, testing yourself in other series, and noticing that you are still competitive. I will only start worrying when I go to a kart track and I’m no longer the fastest. Or in a GT car or something like that. There I still notice that I am competitive. And in Formula 1, it’s just a matter of time before I have a better car again.” Alonso has ventured into several major racing categories in the past. For example, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and also made a bid for the Indy 500 victory.
Still, Formula 1 remains a completely different order for him. “Your debut season in Formula 1 is the most shocking – that’s when you really feel the difference with other categories,” the former champion explained. “The amount of attention, the media attention off the track, the events, everything you have to do besides driving; that is the most overwhelming. That’s when you realize that Formula 1 is a totally different world. The car itself is just a bit faster – the big brother of the car you drove before – and that’s not intimidating. But everything outside of driving is. That makes the difference.”
Read more Mekies counts on breakthrough in rule dispute: ‘In the end, everyone chooses the sport’
Read everything about the Monaco GP here
