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via gpfans.comF1 star admits family had to make huge sacrifice to help his dreamFranco Colapinto has shared the significant sacrifices his family made to support his dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver. His father sold their house to finance Colapinto's first full-time season in racing, which was in the F4 Spanish Championship, where he achieved notable success in 2019.
Colapinto's journey highlights the challenges faced by aspiring racers from South America, as opportunities are limited. His story resonates with other drivers in the sport, such as Liam Lawson and Fred Vesti, who have also experienced similar sacrifices from their families to pursue their racing ambitions.
via RacingNews365Fernando Alonso hands Aston Martin 'no urgency' point over retirement decisionFernando Alonso has indicated that he is not in a hurry to make a decision about his future with Aston Martin for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The two-time champion has yet to commit to the team, which is eager to continue their partnership despite a challenging season where the AMR26 car has only secured three points, all attributed to Alonso.
Alonso mentioned that he is evaluating the upcoming changes in regulations and how they might affect his driving experience. He expressed the importance of understanding the new cars before deciding whether to continue racing or take on another role within the team, emphasizing collaboration with Aston Martin in making this decision.
via PlanetF1Fernando Alonso car collection: $11.7m eye-watering Pagani Zonda Roadster Diamante Verde on the listFernando Alonso, a two-time Formula 1 World Champion, has an impressive car collection that includes several high-value vehicles. His latest addition is a Pagani Zonda Roadster Diamante Verde, valued at approximately $11.7 million. Other notable cars in his collection include the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which he received in September 2024, and a limited-production Lamborghini Sian, among others.
via PlanetF1Fernando Alonso splashes out $5 million in eye-watering new purchaseFernando Alonso has expanded his impressive car collection by purchasing a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse for $5 million. This unique supercar features an aluminum body and a striking red interior, making it the most expensive Bugatti Veyron to date. Alonso was seen taking delivery of the vehicle in Monaco, where onlookers watched as he drove away in the eye-catching machine. The Veyron boasts a top speed of 233 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.6 seconds.
In addition to the Bugatti, Alonso's collection includes a bespoke Pagani Zonda 760 Roadster valued at around $11.7 million, a $10 million Mercedes CLK GTR, and a $3.5 million Aston Martin Valkyrie. As he enjoys his new purchase, Alonso is also contemplating his future in Formula 1, particularly regarding the sport's engine regulations. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has expressed interest in discussing Alonso's potential retirement and the future direction of F1 engines, which may shift towards more internal combustion engine power by 2031.Wikimedia Commons · Off The Track Media · CC BY 2.0Hulkenberg open to racing beyond 40Nico Hulkenberg has expressed his willingness to continue racing in Formula 1 beyond the age of 40, as he prepares to race with Audi through 2027. Having recently turned 39, he is currently one of the older drivers on the grid, alongside Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton. Hulkenberg indicated that his future in the sport will depend on his performance and motivation levels.
In his comments, Hulkenberg praised Alonso's impressive performance at his age and highlighted the importance of being happy and motivated to compete. He also dismissed any excessive nostalgia for the older, lighter F1 cars, suggesting that drivers adapt to the current vehicles and that idealizing the past is not realistic.
via PlanetF1Untelevised Colapinto team radio captures sweary Spanish GP rantFranco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, experienced significant frustration during the Spanish Grand Prix due to team orders that he felt hindered his performance. As Pierre Gasly struggled with the race strategy, Colapinto was vocal about his desire to swap positions with Gasly to avoid losing time to McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Despite his repeated requests, the team did not act on his pleas until Gasly pitted, which ultimately allowed Colapinto to maintain his position and finish in P7.
The race featured a tense atmosphere as both Alpine drivers dealt with strategic challenges. Gasly questioned the team's decision-making regarding his pit stop, leading to a heated exchange with his race engineer. Meanwhile, Colapinto's frustration was evident in his team radio communications, where he expressed disbelief at the lack of action from the team. Ultimately, both drivers faced a challenging race, with Colapinto achieving a respectable finish while Gasly ended up in P12.
via F1iDe la Rosa: Stroll ‘unbeatable in many corners’ – as fast as AlonsoPedro de la Rosa, an ambassador for Aston Martin, expressed strong support for Lance Stroll, claiming he is as fast as teammate Fernando Alonso in many corners. De la Rosa emphasized that Stroll is often unbeatable on certain circuits and highlighted his impressive race pace and tire management skills. However, he acknowledged that Stroll has faced challenges in qualifying, which have affected his overall performance.
Despite de la Rosa's glowing remarks, the statistics tell a different story, with Alonso significantly outperforming Stroll in qualifying and points scored. Stroll's recent record of 100 Q1 eliminations raises questions about his qualifying consistency, contrasting with de la Rosa's assertion that Stroll is a world-class driver when the car is performing optimally.
via gpfans.comMartin Brundle claims he would AXE Fernando Alonso from Aston MartinMartin Brundle has expressed that Aston Martin should consider moving on from Fernando Alonso, who is currently weighing his options regarding retirement or continuing for another season. Despite hopes for a competitive 2026 season following chassis upgrades and the signing of Adrian Newey, the team has struggled with performance, sitting at the bottom of the Constructors' standings with only three points.
While Aston Martin is not pressuring Alonso for a quick decision, Brundle believes the team should focus on rebuilding with younger drivers. Team ambassador Pedro De La Rosa acknowledges the existence of a backup plan should Alonso retire but emphasizes the importance of allowing him time to decide. Alonso's recent performance at the Dutch Grand Prix showcased his abilities, but the team's future direction remains uncertain.Wikimedia Commons · Yu Chu Chin · CC BY-SA 4.0Colapinto reveals pre-race sex banSep.17 (GMM) Franco Colapinto has revealed an unusual rule in his preparation for Formula 1 weekends – avoiding sex before racing. Speaking on Spanish television program La Revuelta, the Alpine driver was asked whether he had had sex in the previous month. “No, I’ve been involved in many races,” said the 23-year-old. Colapinto said the…
via PlanetF1Alonso requests Aston Martin review over ‘very bad’ Honda issues at Spanish GPFernando Alonso has called for an investigation into the Honda engine performance following a disappointing race at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he finished in 17th place. He reported significant issues with the engine, particularly with boost control, which hindered his performance and caused him to lose time during the race.
Meanwhile, his teammate Lance Stroll also faced difficulties, retiring from the race due to a brake pedal issue after sustaining damage from debris. Stroll's struggles contributed to Aston Martin's ongoing challenges this season, as they currently sit in 10th place in the Constructors' standings with only three points.
via f1oversteer.comFernando Alonso’s unheard Spanish GP radio shows Carlos Sainz owes him an apologyDuring the recent Spanish Grand Prix, Carlos Sainz was penalized for an incident involving Fernando Alonso, which led to a heated exchange between the two drivers. Sainz expressed his frustration, claiming Alonso's radio complaints were an attempt to influence the stewards' decision against him.
Alonso's radio messages revealed that he felt Sainz had squeezed him into the wall, and he communicated this to his race engineer. Despite the tension, both drivers had a challenging race, with Sainz retiring early and Alonso finishing far down the order.
via PlanetF1Brundle and Rosberg in fresh disagreement over Fernando Alonso F1 futureIn September 2026, Martin Brundle proposed that Aston Martin should consider replacing Fernando Alonso with younger drivers as part of a team rebuild. This suggestion sparked a disagreement with Nico Rosberg, who defended Alonso's performance against teammate Lance Stroll, arguing that Alonso still outperforms Stroll consistently.
Alonso is contemplating his future in Formula 1, weighing options between continuing until 2027 or retiring after the current season. Despite the uncertainty, he has expressed a desire to stay with Aston Martin, emphasizing that his enjoyment of racing is his primary motivation, rather than the team's results.
via F1iColapinto: Madrid ‘probably my best race weekend’ in F1Franco Colapinto described his performance at the Spanish Grand Prix as his best race weekend in Formula 1, highlighting a strong qualifying session and a solid race that culminated in a seventh-place finish. He noted that everything fell into place, allowing him to maximize his performance and secure points for Alpine, especially after a previous points-scoring race in Italy.
Colapinto attributed part of his success to learning from his teammate Pierre Gasly, particularly during qualifying. He felt a strong connection with the car and emphasized the importance of continuous improvement as he looks forward to upcoming races, including the next event in Baku.
via Formula1.comHow Sainz’s home race in Madrid unravelledCarlos Sainz had a challenging home race in Madrid, where he failed to finish due to a series of incidents and penalties. After qualifying in P20 due to a three-place grid penalty for impeding another driver, Sainz's race took a turn for the worse when he made contact with Yuki Tsunoda on the first lap, resulting in floor damage that severely impacted his car's performance. Ultimately, he retired after 43 laps, feeling that even with a perfect race, he would not have finished higher than 16th.
Alex Albon, Sainz's teammate, also faced difficulties during the race, qualifying in P16 and finishing ahead of Sainz. Albon struggled with tire management and pace, particularly on harder tires, which affected his ability to maintain grip. Despite the disappointing results, Sainz appreciated the support from the fans and expressed hope for better performances in future races.
via f1oversteer.comHonda chief criticises FIA president's support for AlonsoShintaro Orihara, the chief of Honda, has expressed skepticism regarding FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem's proposed solutions to retain Fernando Alonso in Formula 1. Alonso's future in the sport remains uncertain as discussions continue about his potential continuation.
via f1technical.netHow did the VSC boost and derail Alpine's Madrid race at the same time?Alpine came away from the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid with a valuable haul of points after Franco Colapinto produced one of his strongest weekends of the season to finish seventh, while Pierre Gasly was left frustrated after a high-risk strategy failed to pay off.
via Motorsport.comWhat Colapinto learned from Gasly's Monza pole to make his Madrid breakthroughFranco Colapinto has acknowledged the significant impact Pierre Gasly's qualifying performance at Monza had on his own development. After qualifying eighth at Monza, where Gasly achieved a surprising pole position, Colapinto analyzed the data to identify areas for improvement. He noted that while he was close to Gasly in Q1, the gap widened in subsequent sessions, prompting him to focus on understanding Gasly's performance enhancements.
At the Spanish Grand Prix, Colapinto applied the lessons learned from Monza, ultimately finishing seventh after successfully reaching Q3. He highlighted the importance of energy management and driving techniques that he observed from Gasly. Colapinto expressed pride in his qualifying performance in Madrid, stating it was one of his best sessions and reflecting on the progress he made since Monza.
via PlanetF1Nico Rosberg points finger at Carlos Sainz as Madring underwhelmsNico Rosberg has publicly criticized Carlos Sainz following the Spanish Grand Prix, where the Madring circuit failed to provide adequate overtaking opportunities. Rosberg emphasized that Sainz, as an ambassador for the circuit, should be held accountable for its shortcomings. The race was described as processional, with Kimi Antonelli winning while merely managing his tires, and drivers like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen expressing frustration over the lack of competitive racing due to the track's design.
In response to the disappointing race, Sainz acknowledged the need for improvements, suggesting that the circuit should remain open-minded to changes that could enhance overtaking. Other drivers, including Norris and Alonso, echoed these sentiments, pointing out specific corners that could be modified to create better racing conditions. Overall, the feedback from the drivers indicates a strong desire for the Madring to evolve into a more engaging race track.Wikimedia Commons · Off The Track Media · CC BY 2.0Madrid organisers ‘promising’ changes after dull debutSep.15 (GMM) Madrid GP organisers are already promising changes to the new Madring layout after Formula 1’s first race at the venue produced almost no overtaking. De Telegraaf reports that organisers are “promising improvements” for 2027, while other reports say circuit chief Luis Garcia Abad, Fernando Alonso’s former manager, has confirmed that the track will…Page 8 of 21

