Fernando Alonso tests Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin Valkyrie

Fernando Alonso tested the Adrian Newey-designed Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar at the Paul Ricard circuit, filling the gap during Formula 1's current five-week break. The two-time F1 champion, who owns a road-going version of the car, relived his prototype racing days ahead of the new World Endurance Championship season.

Why it matters:

This test highlights how top F1 drivers utilize extended breaks to stay sharp and explore different racing disciplines. For Aston Martin, it serves as a high-profile showcase for their flagship hypercar program and reinforces the technical bridge between their F1 and WEC projects, especially following the high-profile signing of designer Adrian Newey.

The details:

• Alonso completed the test in a WEC-specification Valkyrie on Wednesday, with the team sharing footage on social media.
• He described the experience as "incredible" and noted it was "good to relive the prototype years," a reference to his successful stint in the WEC with Toyota, where he won the Le Mans 24 Hours twice.
• The Valkyrie was originally conceived by Newey over a decade ago during Aston Martin's technical partnership with Red Bull.
• Alonso's test follows similar activities by other drivers during the break; teammate Lance Stroll raced in GT World Challenge Europe, and Max Verstappen is preparing for his Nürburgring 24 Hours debut.
• Alonso took delivery of a road-legal Valkyrie for his private collection in 2024.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the start of the WEC season this weekend with the 6 Hours of Imola, where the Aston Martin factory team will campaign the Valkyrie in the Hypercar class. For Alonso, attention will return to F1 when the season resumes, with Aston Martin hoping the technical momentum from projects like the Valkyrie and Newey's impending arrival will translate to improved on-track performance.