Fernando Alonso has firmly denied feeling "tired" of competing in uncompetitive Formula 1 cars, despite Aston Martin's dismal performance in the 2025 season.
Since securing back-to-back world championships in 2006 as F1's youngest-ever double champion, the Spaniard has faced persistent challenges in recapturing consistent success.
Currently driving what he acknowledges as one of the grid's slowest cars, the 43-year-old, contracted to Aston Martin only until the end of 2026—when he will race Adrian Newey's first car for the team—has yet to score a point in 2025.
"Hopefully for Imola we can take a step forward, which is necessary now," Alonso told DAZN.
When pressed on when improvements might arrive, he tempered expectations. "I don't know," he said. "Because if new parts will arrive, they'll also arrive for the other teams. We can't talk about Aston Martin's improvements as if the others were resting and sleeping. Everyone will bring aerodynamic packages to Imola, so we'll try to make ours the biggest.
"But hey, it is what it is."
Asked by the Spanish broadcaster if he was "tired" of racing in machinery unworthy of his proven talent, Alonso was resolute. "No, it doesn't make me tired," he insisted.
"If I was tired, I wouldn't have made it into Q3 (on Friday)."
When the question was rephrased to probe whether the string of lacklustre races was affecting him in any way, he doubled down, stating, "I don't get tired, because at the beginning of the year I already know that there are 24 races in which the normal thing is not to score points and that the normal thing is to stay out of Q1."
Alonso explained his mindset, saying, "So when I get a P11 in Japan and I come here to the press and say that it was one of my best races, it was really special, and it gets misinterpreted by you guys, the message is 'How is 11th a super special race?' The answer is that I know that an 11th, a Q3, is an outstanding performance, in my opinion.
"And then, these little goals you set for yourself every weekend to do something more than what's logical, they really keep me pretty motivated."
