Witnessing Fernando Alonso battle with a woefully underperforming Formula 1 car, unable to score a single point in 2025 so far, is "painful" and "sad" for those close to him.
The glimmer of hope lies in Adrian Newey crafting a fresh Aston Martin for the two-time champion to drive in 2026. For now, though, the situation stings.
"It's painful," said Pedro de la Rosa, Alonso's long-time ally and Aston Martin ambassador, who also raced in F1. "But it is what it is—it's reality. It's not that we had a bad race (in Bahrain) or that it was poorly executed. The team executed the strategy well and the opportunities we had. That's how the car really performed. Bahrain will show you where your car is, based on its actual performance."
In last Sunday's race, Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll languished in 18th and 20th for fastest lap times. Luca di Montezemolo, the former Ferrari president who brought Alonso to Maranello in 2010, shared his dismay during a rare paddock visit in Bahrain, his first in ten years.
"I'm very sad for Fernando," the 77-year-old told DAZN. "A driver like Fernando, at the end of his career, with such an uncompetitive car, is truly sad. This year is going to be very difficult for him, but I hope that next year, which may be Fernando's last in Formula 1, will see him with a competitive car. He's a great friend, I've shared great moments with him. He's a great champion," the Italian added.
Aston Martin's focus is clearly on 2026, with the 2025 car essentially a carryover from last season's model. "It's as if the car is dying at low speeds," Alonso explained.
"It's a known problem that we suffered from last year and that we continue to have."
He remains cautiously optimistic about Jeddah this weekend, expecting a slight improvement. "But it's one thing to do well, and another to be 14th instead of 18th," the 43-year-old Spaniard lamented.
