This week, McLaren figurehead Zak Brown likened Formula 1 championship contender Max Verstappen to the movie villain who proves impossible to defeat, as he was interviewed on The Sports Agent podcast.
His remarks were made regarding the 2025 F1 title chase, which, at first, appeared to be a contest between McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris – only for the four-time world champion to stage a comeback and insert himself into the mix.
But if that’s Brown’s view of Verstappen, what analogy would describe his former McLaren colleague, Fernando Alonso? At 44 years of age, the two-time F1 world champion maintains a strong presence. He tops the list of grand prix starts with 423 – a lead of 45 over second-placed Lewis Hamilton – he is currently in his 22nd season since his start in 2001, and Alonso seems committed to continuing.
There have been discussions this year questioning whether the Spaniard is past his prime, particularly considering the difficult season for his Aston Martin team and it being 12 years since his last triumph at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix.
However, Alonso addressed these concerns with an impressive qualifying performance for Saturday’s Qatar Grand Prix sprint race, placing himself on the second row. He will start fourth, trailing only the McLaren drivers and Mercedes’ George Russell, and two places ahead of current champion Verstappen, marking his best start position this year – improving on fifth place in Imola, Budapest, and Sao Paulo.
“Yes, 24 years of experience, at 44, brings certain disadvantages,” Alonso noted, having qualified 12 places ahead of his teammate, Lance Stroll.
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
“Jet lag and travel tire me somewhat, but I am familiar with the tracks, the tires, and the car, allowing me to monitor everything effectively on Friday. Then, on Saturday, we can adjust the car in parc ferme.”
“We make a few minor adjustments, and it seems everyone else also gets to grips with the circuit. But let’s take it gradually, focusing on tomorrow’s sprint race and then qualifying [for Sunday’s grand prix].”
What makes Alonso’s drive even more impressive is his lengthy stint competing in the midfield, which is a significant departure from his early career when he became a world champion at 24.
With two races left in the 2025 championship, Aston Martin is currently eighth, without a podium finish since 2023, when Alonso secured eight during his first year with the Silverstone team.
Alonso’s continued dedication to the team is commendable, enhanced by the sweeping regulation changes scheduled for 2026, which will affect both the chassis and power unit.
“Around the winter of 2022, after the 2022 season, when I joined Aston Martin, I observed the team’s progress during that winter, suggesting that 2023 could be a promising season,” commented Alonso, regarding his unexpected move from Alpine.
Alonso’s last podium was the 2023 Brazilian GP
Photo by: Zak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
“Now, with a change in regulations, there’s more uncertainty about the regulations and which team will start strongest. But I’m definitely excited.”
“Also, this year has been challenging. We are not realistically competing for significant achievements, so we aim to conclude the season as positively as possible – these final two races are vital.”
“We are closely matched in the constructors’ championship, with only a few points separating us, and we have three chances to score points, two here in Qatar and one in Abu Dhabi, so we are aiming to outperform our rivals. Overall, I’m looking forward to an interesting next year.”
A strong showing in the sprint could not only assist Aston Martin in overtaking Haas for seventh, with just a single point separating them, but would also mitigate the threat from ninth-placed Sauber, who are only four points behind the British team.
Additional reporting by Stuart Codling.
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