Fernando Alonso has already left Jonathan Wheatley ‘astounded’ before Aston Martin move

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Jonathan Wheatley’s mooted move to Aston Martin will see him reunite with Fernando Alonso. Wheatley worked at Renault when Alonso won his first world championship in 2005.

The Englishman had been with the team since the Benetton days, working his way up to the role of chief mechanic. After Alonso’s 2005 success, he left to join Red Bull.

Wheatley would spend nearly 20 years at Milton Keynes before taking the opportunity to become Audi team principal. But his tenure in Hinwil could be far shorter as he eyes a move back to the UK.

Is Jonathan Wheatley the right man to get Aston Martin back on track in 2026?

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Jonathan Wheatley sees Fernando Alonso as an ‘otherworldly’ talent

During the Benetton era, Wheatley worked as a mechanic on Michael Schumacher’s cars. He helped Schumacher win back-to-back titles in 1994 and ’95.

He also witnessed Alonso and Max Verstappen claim their first championships in 2005 and 2021 respectively. In an appearance on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast last year, Wheatley was asked what those three drivers have in common.

Like Schumacher and Verstappen, Wheatley says Alonso always delivers, no matter the challenge he faces. He may be turning 45 this year, but he continues to perform at a high level.

• READ MORE: Jonathan Wheatley is ignoring a glaring red flag if he joins Aston Martin alongside Adrian Newey

“I think they all have a magic that if they sniff the possibility of a victory, they can deliver it,” Wheatley explained.

“They can pull otherworldly skills out. They’re all able to read a race from the cockpit. They’re able to deliver strategies that you think are impossible to deliver.

“Over the course of a race season, when so many things can go wrong, they always come out on top. Wet weather, crashes, punctures, they come out on top. They just deliver.

“And just when you think you’ve seen the best drive that you’re ever going to see, these guys are capable of doing something that just leaves you astounded.”

Jonathan Wheatley chooses between Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso

Wheatley picked Verstappen as the best driver he has worked with, rather than Alonso or Schumacher.

“I think Max embodies everything that a racing driver needs,” he said, before adding, “I still sit there and watch it sometimes and go ‘wow, I don’t know if anyone else can do that.'”

Alonso had to retire from the Chinese GP last weekend as he visibly struggled to deal with the vibrations from the Honda engine. He also retired early at the season opener in Australia.

The Spaniard’s contract expires at the end of the season and there are growing suspicions that he may retire. But as he has previously indicated, Alonso won’t feel his time at Aston Martin is done until they achieve success.