Alonso: Happy I’m driving in a time Newey is building F1 cars

Adrian Newey arguably is the best designer in F1 history, his cars carrying numerous drivers to multiple F1 Drivers' Championships the latest two examples being Sebastian Vettel (2010-2011-2012-2013) and Max Verstappen (2021-2022-2023).

But Newey recently admitted there are two drivers which he would've like to work with, Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, when speaking to the Beyond The Grid podcast earlier this year.

"Working with Fernando or Lewis [Hamilton] would have been fabulous, but it never happened. It’s just circumstance, sometimes that’s the way it is," Newey said.

When Newey's comments were brought to Alonso's attention, the Spaniard admitted that the sentiments were mutual.

"I read [it] also a few months ago. Honestly, [he’s] a legend of the sport," Alonso told Formula 1's Official Website.

"We’ve been very close a few times to work together, and we spoke about this. I remember when he published a book a few years ago, in Spain I had the privilege to do the [foreword].

"For me, it’s just an incredible person that I was so lucky to work in the same environment as him, even if we never worked together. I’m happy that I’m living and I’m driving in this time that Adrian Newey is building Formula 1 cars.

"I wish one day I was working with him," the double F1 Champion went on. "I will drive the Valkyrie [Newy-designed Aston Martin hypercar] at home and maybe I feel something already when I jump in and that would make me happy!"

Alonso felt the Newey effect first hand during his days at Ferrari when he was fighting with Vettel at Red Bull the latter driving Newey-penned cars.

The result was Alonso losing out on the Title during the period between 2010 and 2013, Vettel and Red Bull clinching four Title doubles.

Asked if his two F1 Title would've been more had he worked with Newey, Alonso quipped: "He’s responsible for 19 drivers for two decades not to win championships!"