With new regulations set to take effect in 2026, both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton will be looking for a much-needed boost after a frustrating start to the current season.
Neither driver has been happy with how things are going at their respective teams, struggling to find performance and consistency so far this year.
Calling it his “worst season” ever, Hamilton’s struggles have continued, marking a tough period that began late in his Mercedes tenure. He is still searching for consistency with the team and has yet to secure a podium finish in a calendar year – a first in his career.
Things have not been much better for Alonso at Aston Martin. Still searching for the kind of form he showed back in 2023, he has managed just 48 points so far this season.
The new regulations offer hope of a reset for both drivers. Ferrari and Aston Martin are each hoping to take advantage of the changes to make up ground on their rivals, with Aston Martin undergoing significant changes ahead of next season.
Adrian Newey is set to take over as team principal in 2026, and Honda will become their engine supplier. With these changes in place, they look well-positioned to give Alonso another shot at adding a third title to his career.
Ralf Schumacher backs Fernando Alonso for the 2026 title over Lewis Hamilton if Adrian Newey can build him a car
Hamilton’s 2025 season with Ferrari has not silenced any doubts about his future competitiveness in F1. If Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who stepped into his old seat at Mercedes, finishes ahead of him in Abu Dhabi, Hamilton could end up matching his lowest-ever season result.
In that context, Ralf Schumacher is not convinced that the Briton’s driving style will ever lead him back to the top. But when it comes to Alonso, he sees things differently.
“Of course, people immediately start saying, he’s too old now. I think, if Adrian builds him the car, he can still become world champion, because he has an incredible overview,” Schumacher said to Formel1.de.
“So what Lewis no longer has, Fernando Alonso has ten times over. In every situation, he emerges victorious from the battle. He doesn’t make any mistakes.
“So, you can tell that he’s still driving the car and not the car driving him. And as long as that’s the case, I think he can do it. And I would be happy for him, because it’s definitely just like Max Verstappen, an exception in Formula 1.”
Could Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso walk away from Formula 1 in 2026?
Alonso was impressed by Newey’s address to Aston Martin staff in Qatar and felt it gave both himself and Aston Martin a needed lift going into 2026.
Hamilton, meanwhile, is facing questions about his future, with rumours suggesting he might leave F1 at the end of the year. But David Croft has said that people around the Briton believe he will be “energised” for the next season.
Both Alonso and Hamilton have contracts expiring at the end of 2026, so there is a sense that this regulation cycle could be their final shot at another title.
The Spaniard has been careful about what he says regarding retirement but has suggested he would like to finish on a high note. Aston Martin appear ready to give him a car that can compete; it is just a matter of whether Newey and Alonso can make it all work in time.
- READ MORE: What Helmut Marko privately told Ralf Schumacher after watching Kimi Antonelli’s Qatar GP mistake
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