Motorsport photoEd HardyThu, November 27, 2025 at 9:58 PM UTC·5 min readDouble Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso reckons the final two rounds of the 2025 season will act as a “celebration” to mark the end of an underwhelming year.
The Aston Martin driver heads into this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix 13th in the championship, three spots above team-mate Lance Stroll, with the Silverstone squad eighth in the constructors’ standings.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt comes ahead of a huge regulation change in 2026, as F1 cars will become lighter and smaller while there will also be more emphasis on electrical energy with a near 50-50 split against the internal combustion engine.
So everything will be new and that is why Alonso looks forward to the end of the current ground-effect era, considering it's been two years since his last podium - 2023 Brazil Grand Prix.
"It's two grands prix of celebration, or I take it that way,” the 44-year-old told DAZN in Las Vegas. “Qatar with the sprint, which we don't have much time and we can't sleep because we only have one free practice session and we're already going to qualifying.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“And then Abu Dhabi, which is usually a farewell for everybody and a bit of a rest. So I take it as two celebration races, also because we won't be driving this car anymore, so it has to be a celebration for that reason."
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingAlonso is therefore pessimistic for the upcoming races, especially when he is on a point-less streak of three grands prix dating back to his 10th-placed result in Austin.
But a large reason for that point was Carlos Sainz retiring up ahead, meaning Alonso thinks his last successful race was the one before in Singapore when he finished seventh.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"We have to be realistic, and know that we have been five or six races without scoring or scoring by chance," added Alonso, whose team-mate is on a barren streak of seven weekends.
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"I think Singapore is the last time we took points in a deserved way, so to come to Qatar and expect to be in the top six or seven is totally illogical.
"So we go with the hope and with the work of trying to do well, because that we will never stop trying.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"But there are two races left to close 2025, which is a very complicated year and we are going to try to do the best we can but logically we are thinking about 2026."
Photos from Qatar GP - Thursday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, FerrariKym Illman / Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practice
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practiceDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenAndrew Ferraro / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariKym Illman / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, FerrariKym Illman / Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamRudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
A general view of the Paddock
A general view of the PaddockMark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin RacingZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementScuderia Ferrari pit crew practice
Scuderia Ferrari pit crew practiceDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, SauberGuido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, SauberDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineJayce Illman / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, MercedesDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLarenZak Mauger / LAT Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls TeamSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, FerrariDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFranco Colapinto, Alpine
Franco Colapinto, AlpineSam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull RacingDom Gibbons / LAT Images via Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, MercedesLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 TeamLars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, AlpineSam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLarenSteven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images
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