Is Adrian Newey the answer to Fernando Alonso’s 20-year wait?
By Margaux Luzé
In the Formula 1 paddock, time often acts as an adversary to all drivers, erasing those reflexes and dampening motivation that allow drivers to compete at a high level. Eventually, for all greats, time will always lead to a quiet exit from racing. Fernando Alonso has never taken the conventional path. At 44, the Spaniard has no intention to simply hold on and compete but is proactively preparing to make an all-time great effort to carve his name into the history books one last time. In addition, for the first time in his career, he will have behind him the man many consider to be “the Genius of Aerodynamics”.
For decades, Adrian Newey and Fernando Alonso had been the two most formidable “opponents” who never worked together. For years, Alonso was dragging average cars to results they didn’t deserve at Ferrari and Alpine. Meanwhile, Newey was the mastermind building the very cars that blocked him from winning a third title.
Now, under Aston Martin, the “Genius” and the “Samurai of the Grid” (a nickname Alonso carries as a nod to his mindset, discipline, and the tattoo on his back) have finally joined forces. For Alonso, whose career has often been a story of “wrong place, wrong time” regarding car performance, Newey represents the ultimate reward for his unparalleled longevity.
To understand why Alonso is so confident for 2026, we have to look at Newey’s track record. He is the only designer to win titles with three different teams. His massive collection of trophies proves one thing: if Newey builds it, his drivers win.
The “Newey Champions” Club:
- Nigel Mansell (1992): Williams
- Alain Prost (1993): Williams
- Damon Hill (1996) & Jacques Villeneuve (1997): Williams
- Mika Häkkinen (1998–1999): McLaren
- Sebastian Vettel (2010–2013): Red Bull
- Max Verstappen (2021–2023+): Red Bull
In total, cars designed by Newey have secured 13 Drivers’ World Championships and 12 Constructors’ Titles. For a driver like Alonso, who has spent 20 years chasing a third star, these aren’t just stats, they are a promise.
The buzz within the Silverstone factory shifted gears in September 2024, when Newey’s departure to Aston Martin was first made official. However, the real earthquake hit in November 2025, when it was announced that Newey would officially step up as Team Principal and Managing Technical Partner for the 2026 season.
We often talk about what drivers owe the sport, but in this case, it feels like the sport is finally paying its debt to Fernando Alonso. By pairing him with Adrian Newey, Formula 1 has set the stage for a final chapter that could be more legendary than the first two combined. The wait has been long, but as the wait shows us, the best stories are the ones that take a lifetime to capture.
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