Alonso dismisses Dakar 2027 rumours, saying Formula 1 demands are incompatible with the rally
At his Singapore Grand Prix press conference, Alonso said Formula 1 and the Dakar cannot be combined, but left open the possibility that he will announce a future challenge himself.
Alonso rejects the Dakar idea
Fernando Alonso dismissed rumours that he will compete in the 2027 Dakar Rally, speaking at the press conference on Thursday ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. Asked whether the reports were true, the Spanish driver said he had read them but did not believe the demands of Formula 1 and the Dakar were compatible. He said the rally requires careful preparation, determination and luck, and that outsiders may wrongly assume it is easy even for a driver who has been competitive before. Alonso competed in the Dakar in 2020, and the reports had suggested a return in 2027.
When I face the next challenge, I will announce it, it will not be a rumour, and I will be the one to communicate it. And I will do it because I think I will be sufficiently prepared.
What the reports claimed
The rumours had surfaced only days before the press conference. La Razón, citing SoyMotor.com, reported that Alonso would drive a Prodrive-run Aston Martin in the T1+ category, and that the car would be a former Dacia Sandrider with Aston Martin bodywork. The same report said Nasser Al-Attiyah would be his teammate and would act as a mentor during a test planned for the following week. Alonso did not confirm these details at the press conference, and he rejected the central claim that the two commitments could sit alongside each other.
Aston Martin's response
Aston Martin's Mike Krack was asked about the idea in Singapore and gave it his blessing. He cited Robert Kubica and Kimi Räikkönen, who have raced in rallies, and Max Verstappen and Lance Stroll, who have raced in GT3 events. Krack said he personally liked the idea.
Personally, I like it. It is good for motorsport in general that drivers do that.
Krack said he could not say what would happen with Alonso next year. He added that such activity also shows the competitive approach of the drivers involved, and that it says something about the kind of drivers they are.
Form and the Singapore weekend
The Dakar question came as Alonso discussed his recent result. He finished eighth in the previous race, and said scoring points and having competitive race pace was encouraging, though the team remained far from where it wants to be. He does not expect more consistency from the AMR26 for the rest of the season, and said performance depends heavily on the weekend. He also referred to a software fault that affected some cars on the rain-hit formation lap in Sepang, saying it must be understood and not repeated, while the FIA had already advanced a software update for rain conditions ahead of the United States Grand Prix. The Singapore race is a night event at Marina Bay this weekend, which Alonso said does not change much because the circuit is well lit.
