Montoya: Alonso Risks Major Regret if He Leaves Aston Martin

Juan Pablo Montoya has warned Fernando Alonso that walking away from Aston Martin now could be a decision the two-time champion lives to regret. Despite a brutal start to 2026 that leaves Alonso 18th in the drivers' standings with a single point after seven rounds, Montoya insists the Silverstone outfit has assembled all the ingredients needed to suddenly jump to the front.

Why it matters:

• At 44, Alonso is running out of time to wait out another long rebuild, so backing the wrong team now would kill any remaining hope of a third world title
• Aston Martin has bet heavily on Adrian Newey, Honda's works return, and a new factory, yet none of that investment has translated to 2026 lap times
• Montoya's intervention underscores the central tension of Alonso's dilemma: the security and underlying potential of his current seat against an emotional reunion with Flavio Briatore at Alpine

The details:

• Speaking on F1 TV's Weekend Warm-up, Montoya stressed that Alonso is in a "comfortable place" where he is known and respected, with a team that has the tools to win
• He cited Adrian Newey as arguably the greatest designer in the sport, alongside Honda's championship pedigree and the team's new facilities
• The Colombian warned that while Alpine may run "decent" under Briatore, Aston Martin could "get it right" the very moment Alonso walks away
• The numbers paint a bleak picture: after seven rounds, Alonso has scored just one point and sits 18th in the drivers' championship

What's next:

• Alonso has admitted considering retirement but remains uncommitted, keeping the market guessing as the season approaches the summer break
• The coming races will prove decisive in determining whether Aston Martin can unlock its Newey-led concept, or whether continued struggles push Alonso toward the exit
• Either way, Montoya frames the choice in blunt terms: stay loyal to a team with every tool to win, or risk the agony of watching them do it from another garage