David Coulthard says Fernando Alonso leaves every F1 team in worse shape when he departs

Follow us on Google Discover

Fernando Alonso will hope that the 20th anniversary of his second Formula 1 world championship will bring him good luck at Aston Martin.

An awful lot has changed in Formula 1 since Fernando Alonso achieved back-to-back titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006.

None of his fellow drivers from 2006 are still on the grid, and only four teams from that era still exist in their current form.

Change my mind: Fernando Alonso is going to finish his F1 career without winning another race

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

The Spaniard has pinned his hopes on Aston Martin for the upcoming regulation changes, which were previously known as Midland F1, the last time Alonso tasted championship glory.

Fans have high hopes for Alonso going into 2026, and one of his rivals from the start of his career, David Coulthard, has been analysing the 44-year-old.

He’s now predicted how long he thinks Alonso will keep racing for, as well as suggesting that he has a knack for leaving teams worse off than when he found them when he eventually leaves.

READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2

David Coulthard chooses ‘controversial’ Fernando Alonso over Alberto Ascari

Coulthard had to choose between Alberto Ascari and Alonso as part of The Red Flags podcast rankings and explained: “Well, I never met Ascari, but God, what a name.

“A name that will forever be celebrated because of Monza and the Ascari chicane.

“I’ve got to go with Fernando because he’s 44 years old. He seems forever young. He’s still pumping it out. He kind of flies under the radar in many ways.

“He is controversial. In every team he’s ever left, his going-away present is pulling the pin in a hand grenade and throwing it in.

Fernando Alonso hasn’t won a world championship in 20 years. What’s gone wrong at every team he’s driven for since Renault?

Comment

Like or Comment

Have your say Sign-in now for free

“But it’s because of an absolute belief, and I think, not to be disrespectful to the vertically challenged, but I think there’s an element of [Napoleon] which just sees him not take no for an answer, not lie down.

“So I’ve got massive respect for what he’s achieved and his longevity.”

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin F1 Team from team principal to lineage

David Coulthard predicts how long he thinks Fernando Alonso will continue racing in F1

Asked how long he thinks Alonso will stay in F1, Coulthard continued: “I think that’ll be dictated by next year’s car.

“I think if next year’s car and Adrian Newey-Honda powered car, which, if Honda do a good job, because I think it will be dominated by engines initially, but if Honda deliver, and Adrian, of course, it takes time to sort of influence change.

“But he’s joined with Aston with a new facility, and they’ve had time to invest before he joined then we could be here next year, going who would have known Lance Stroll has won 10 races and he’s leading the world championship!”

Alonso’s contract expires at the end of 2026, but it might be out of his control whether he continues beyond that.

Aston Martin have shown an interest in several other drivers beyond this year, but if Alonso can prove he has what it takes to race for victories, if the car is good enough, then there’s no reason why he can’t continue.

READ MORE: Fernando Alonso will love the ‘unusual’ announcement Honda are set to make before the 2026 F1 season

David Coulthard explains why he chose Lewis Hamilton over Fernando Alonso

Coulthard eventually reached a match-up between Alonso and his 2007 teammate Lewis Hamilton.

He concluded: “Well, you’ve got to go [with] Hamilton.

“He matched Alonso in his first year, and Alonso was already a champion.

“So the speed and future winningness of Hamilton was declared early doors. And Alonso at his peak, and Hamilton, at his peak, then toe to toe they were they were matched on lap times.

“The Napoleon complex has seen Fernando pull the pin on that grenade on a few occasions.”

Alonso probably won’t be too pleased that Coulthard has chosen Hamilton over him, given their intense rivalry.

Aston Martin will hope that they’ve built a car fast enough in 2026 that will allow fans to see the two elder statesmen on the grid go wheel-to-wheel once again after being separated for so long.