Fernando Alonso at Sepang: in the rain, over a minute down and at 45 years old, he delivers his best race of 2026
- Fernando Alonso achieved his best result of 2026 with Aston Martin-Honda by finishing eighth in Sepang, scoring 4 points under extreme rain conditions
- At 45 years old and with a car that was not competitive for high positions, the Asturian driver recovered from a disadvantaged position thanks to intelligent pit stop strategy and exploitation of safety car periods
- Alonso's performance in Malaysia demonstrates once again that legends never give up, extracting maximum potential from available resources even in the worst circumstances
Some races are measured in numbers. And some races are measured in goosebumps. What Fernando Alonso pulled off today at Sepang is the latter. In the rain, over a minute down, with a car that had no business fighting and at 45 years old, the Asturian has delivered his best race of 2026. Eighth. Four points. And the feeling, once again, that legends never give up.
«In the rain, over a minute down and at 45 years old…» · on Instagram @elopi23
🌧️ The Sunday that looked lost
Sepang woke up the way it so often does: wet. Rain turned everything upside down, to the point where several cars ground to a halt on track due to a software glitch. And in the chaos, Fernando drew the short straw: an early strategy that left him stranded, over a minute down. Another grey Sunday. Another afternoon to forget in a year that had already served up too many.
That's where anyone else would have thrown in the towel. Not him.
🔥 The comeback
What followed was pure Alonso. He stretched his stints when others pitted, read every safety car period like he's been reading them for a quarter-century, and started hunting. After his second stop he was thirteenth. From there, car by car, he climbed with rhythm and precision until crossing the line eighth.
It's not a win. Or a podium. But in a season where the AMR26 with Honda power has scraped together points here and there, and where his best result had been a ninth at Zandvoort, these four points taste like so much more. They taste like he's still got it.
🏁 Sepang, his home
It's no ordinary circuit for him. At Sepang he's won three times:
- 2005, with Renault, the year of his first World Championship.
- 2007, with McLaren, in his only season alongside Hamilton.
- 2012, with Ferrari, in a downpour with a car that had no right to win. One of the greatest drives of his life.
Fourteen years on, Sepang's rain has brought out the best in him again. Some things never change.
💚 «I'll retire… but not yet»
Just days ago, Aston Martin announced his renewal for 2027 with that video of the black chair where Fernando said he'd retire, but not yet. Today, at Sepang, he's given the best possible answer to why he carries on. If you want to dig into his full story, check out the article on his renewal and his legend, and if you're curious, also how much he earns at Aston Martin.
Legends don't give up. They just wait for their moment. And something tells me the number 33 hasn't said his final word yet. 🏁💚
Frequently asked questions
What position did Fernando Alonso finish in at Sepang?
Eighth in the 2026 Malaysian Grand Prix, after recovering from more than a minute behind in the rain. He scored 4 points and it's his best result of the season.
How many times has Fernando Alonso won at Sepang?
Three times: in 2005 with Renault, in 2007 with McLaren and in 2012 with Ferrari, the latter in the rain.
What is Alonso's best result in 2026?
Eighth place at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang, ahead of his ninth place finish at Zandvoort.
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