41-Year Old Fernando Alonso Under Threat as Aston Martin-Honda Deal Favors Driver Half His Age

Shreya Sanjeev | 24/05/2023
41-Year Old Fernando Alonso Under Threat as Aston Martin-Honda Deal Favors Driver Half His Age

Fernando Alonso has been credited for bringing Aston Martin to the spotlight, as the underdogs become the ones to look out for. So far, we have had only a single podium celebration without the F1 champion gracing it. But will all this success come to bite him in the back?

In F1, the race against time is almost as important as the one on the track. Alonso, being the oldest driver on the grid, hasn’t been a limitation. Yet. As Aston Martin counts down to 2026, Alonso would be a stunning 45 years old. Although the man has shown no signs of stopping anytime soon, the team has already begun discussions about his potential successor.

Tapping into their new market, Aston Martin revealed Yuki Tsunoda to be the man they have their eyes on. With the iconic Japanese marquee of Honda, it would only make sense to bring Tsunoda to the seat.

Fernando Alonso paves the way for Yuki Tsunoda

So far, Tsunoda has made a mark. On Aston Martin’s radar, CEO Martin Whitmarsh looked into Tsunoda’s potential in green. “He’s very young still, but relatively experienced but I think he’s made great progress. It’s tremendously exciting.”

Delving into the hunger for more on behalf of both Honda and Aston, Whitmarsh knows they will need the best possible lineup to do so. Tsunoda makes the cut so far.

Additionally, the idea of a Japanese driver in a Honda-powered car is more than a palatable idea. With dreams of extravagant Grand Prix in Suzuka, Whitmarsh added, “He must be considered as a candidate. I’m sure he would love to drive a Honda-powered car.”

Thus Tsunoda has already been pushed to the front of the line as a potential replacement for Alonso. Although nothing is confirmed, Whitmarsh is ready to have ‘some serious discussions’ with the 23-year-old driver in the future.

Will Alonso be out of the picture by 2026?

Alonso will turn 42 this July and is still one of the most motivated drivers on the grid. Especially with his recent burst of podiums throwing him back into the spotlight, fans are left amazed at the wonders of the Samurai.

However, despite Alonso doling out performances like he’s 20, the clock does not lie. By the time the Honda deal reaches fruition on the track, he would be 45 years old. A number that is no joke in F1.

While dreams of driving till you’re 50 are easy to see, Alonso would have to pull a miracle to pull off what he’s doing today in the next three years. While Tsunoda is a worthy driver, it would be far from what the double champ has done today.

Honda’s return to F1 is exciting, but it has thrown a spanner in the works. As Aston Martin has only just had a taste of glory, would Alonso miss out on what’s more to come? What would Sebastian Vettel say?

Post Edited By: Shreya Sanjeev
Aston Martin Fernando Alonso Honda Yuki Tsunoda

About the author

Shreya Sanjeev

Shreya Sanjeev is an F1 journalist at the SportsRush. Two years in the field and an ever-growing love for the sport drive her dream to walk around the paddock one day with a mic in hand. A Red Bull fan through and through, her “favorite driver” spot was once held by notable alumni Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and now, the Dutch Lion himself, Max Verstappen. Apart from F1, she muses in the NBA and cheers on for Steph Curry and his Warriors, while also jumping on the NFL bandwagon.

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