Jan.22 (GMM) Mattia Binotto has added weight to the increasingly viral prediction that Fernando Alonso could be a genuine contender for the 2026 world championship.
Speaking at Audi’s Formula 1 presentation in Berlin, the former Ferrari boss – now leading Audi’s F1 project – was asked about Alonso after the Spaniard was voted into the top five drivers of 2025 by Formula 1 team principals.
“I think Fernando Alonso is a great champion,” said Mattia Binotto. “I know him very well because I was with him when he was at Ferrari. He’s one of those incredible, exceptional champions – and he’s proving that he’s still very fast.”
Binotto went further, touching directly on why Alonso keeps resurfacing as a 2026 dark horse.
“Whenever there’s a chance to win in Formula 1, Fernando won’t let it slip away,” he said. “That’s what makes him, in a way, very special.”
The comments come as Alonso’s reputation continues to grow despite Aston Martin’s uneven 2025 campaign. With 2026 ushering in radically new cars, new power units and the first Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin with works Honda power, speculation about a late-career title push has only intensified.
Former driver Ralf Schumacher believes experience could matter – but is no guarantee.
“The crucial question is which drivers can cope with completely new cars and a new driving style,” Schumacher said. “Can someone like Nico Hulkenberg adapt with his experience, or is this an opportunity for the younger drivers?”