Fernando Alonso's standing in the world championship has plummeted from third place during last month's Italian GP to fifth, as he was leapfrogged by Russell, Norris, and Leclerc during a difficult streak. Aston Martin has mirrored this slump, sliding to fifth in the constructors' race. Although McLaren has already passed them, they've created a gap from those further down the order. In Mexico, Alonso's weekend was a disaster; after starting 13th, a collision with Sergio Perez at the first corner likely damaged the car's floor, forcing the team to pull him out of the race.
Fernando Alonso was third in the world championship as recently as last month’s Italian GP, but after a string of difficult weekends, he is now fifth, trailed by Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and George Russell. Meanwhile, Aston Martin has dropped to fifth place in the constructors’ championship but is no longer threatened from behind after being surpassed by McLaren. Alonso had another dismal weekend in Mexico, starting 13th and then sliding back due to probable floor damage after Sergio Perez’s first corner collision. The team ultimately chose to retire the vehicle.
Because of a spec update, Lance Stroll began the race from the pits. He managed to pass a struggling Alonso before his own race ended prematurely following a crash with Valtteri Bottas. Alonso is now acknowledging the reality of his slide down the rankings, telling Motorsport.com that they are no longer contending for anything significant as they look toward the Brazilian GP.
Alonso believes that focusing on learning—even if it means starting from the pitlane—is more productive than just going through the motions. While he views the team's constructors' rank as essentially locked, he expects to lose more ground in the drivers' championship. He remarked how surprising it is that they are currently ahead of drivers like Lando, George, or the Ferrari pair, but admits those competitors have faster machinery. Despite this, the 42-year-old remains determined to see what they can still achieve.
Alonso emphasized that the team isn't simply accepting their fate; they are working tirelessly to turn things around, even if they aren't where they want to be. He believes that hardships often provide more valuable lessons than easy victories. Currently, the focus is on maximizing testing and sending detailed feedback to the Silverstone factory, with the goal of ending the season on a positive note rather than a decline.
When questioned about the possibility of a late-season recovery, the Spaniard suggested that the remaining three circuits could provide crucial data. While he doesn't believe they will be fighting for podiums again this year, he maintains that they can still finish the season in a competitive and respectable manner.