The Grand Prix commentator on “Sky Sports F1” Martin Brundle believes that Aston Martin should take advantage of its deep restructuring to also renew its driver duo.
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Despite the still solid performances of Fernando Alonso, the former F1 driver thinks the team should turn to two younger drivers to accompany the project led by Adrian Newey. An opinion not shared by Nico Rosberg.
At 45 years old, Fernando Alonso continues to show that he can compete with much younger drivers. The Spaniard has scored Aston Martin’s only points this season and overwhelmingly dominates his teammate Lance Stroll in most competitive sessions.
Exit Alonso?
That does not stop Martin Brundle from thinking that the time is approaching for Aston Martin to turn the page. While the team is only in tenth place in the constructors’ championship out of eleven teams, the Sky Sports consultant believes that the vast reconstruction project undertaken around Adrian Newey should also concern the drivers.
“I love F1 as it is currently. You have Kimi Antonelli, who is 20 years old, and you can compare him to big names like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are now in their forties. It’s great to have such a diversity of generations,” explains Brundle.
But if he were to lead Aston Martin, the Brit would nevertheless make a radical choice: “I can’t help but think that, if I were running Aston Martin – and this will surely be very well received – they are rebuilding this team, they are building for the future, Adrian Newey is working tirelessly at his drawing board… I would tend to take two 25-year-old drivers and also rebuild the driver duo.”
Brundle wants to prepare for the post-Alonso era
Brundle insists that his reasoning is not related to the current performance level of the two-time world champion. He still appreciates Alonso’s presence on the grid but believes Aston Martin must now think longer term.
“We love having him among us, but if I were in charge of the team, I would rebuild the driver duo so that it is ready for the next phase.”
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Such a decision would theoretically also involve replacing Lance Stroll. However, the Canadian benefits from a special situation since his father Lawrence Stroll is the owner of the team.
Nico Rosberg does not share Brundle’s analysis regarding Alonso. The 2016 world champion believes that the Spaniard “still holds up very well in comparison,” especially when observing his performances against Stroll.
Ben Sulayem wants to convince Alonso to stay
Alonso’s future beyond 2026 remains uncertain. At 45, the Aston Martin driver is still considering the possibility of continuing his career or definitively leaving Formula 1.
His performances do not seem to be the main factor in his reflection. Alonso has been particularly critical of the new technical regulations introduced in 2026 and indicated that his choice would depend notably on the changes planned for 2027, more than on Aston Martin’s competitiveness level.
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also hinted in Madrid that he would do everything possible to convince the two-time world champion to stay in Formula 1. However, the Spanish weekend did not offer Alonso the result he hoped for in front of his home crowd.
Madrid hosted the Spanish Grand Prix for the first time, thirteen years after the last victory of the Spanish driver in F1, achieved in Barcelona in 2013. Alonso finished only 17th in Madrid, two laps behind the winner, only ahead of Valtteri Bottas’s Cadillac among the classified drivers.
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