Nikola Tsolov dominates Formula 2, but still carries the financial consequences of his former collaboration with Fernando Alonso's agency. While the student accelerates towards F1, the mentor prepares to contest qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the wheel of a heavily modified… and still desperately slow Aston Martin.
Tsolov gains altitude, Alonso is still searching for grip
There are weekends when the clock and current events align with an almost artistic cruelty. In Budapest, Fernando Alonso wanted to present the rebirth ofAston MartinHe is now primarily forced to defend, indirectly, his reputation as a mentor.
On one side, a single-seater packed with new features but languishing at the back of the field. On the other, Nikola Tsolov, former protégé of the Spaniard, current leader of the Formula 2 and possible future candidate for a seat at Racing BullsBetween the two, there is a story of an allegedly draconian contract and a bill which, according to some claims, continues to haunt the Bulgarian.
Tsolov wins races, but would still have to pay off his future
Before joining the junior program of Red Bull brand in 2025 Nikola Tsolov had been accompanied by A14 Management, the agency founded by Fernando Alonso. The two-time world champion had participated in the Bulgarian's rise from the lower categories, offering him advice, guidance and visibility.
But according to the German journalist Ralph BachThis generous launch ramp would have been equipped with a particularly expensive toll. He claims thatAlonso reportedly signed a contract with the young pilot ruthless and greedy to the point that Tsolov would still be in debt after leaving the agency. Red Bull should then have intervened to help him improve his financial situation.
The accusation is spectacular. Perhaps even a little too convenient in a paddock that loves to transform contractual clauses into financial dramas. No contract has been made public, and no detailed evidence exists at this stage to substantiate the sums mentioned. A14 Management did not respond to the requests reported in the initial text. It would therefore be premature to transform Alonso as a ruthless banker based solely on one testimony.
But the irony remains: the agency created to "maximize the potential" of young pilots finds itself accused of having maximized something else.
Sportingly Tsolov doesn't exactly give the impression of a driver overwhelmed by events. For his first full season in Formula 2, the pilot Campos and member of the Red Bull Junior Team leads the championship with 161 points, a 27-point lead over Gabriele Mini before the Budapest races.
At 19, the Bulgarian therefore possesses what Fernando Alonso et Aston Martin are still looking for a clearly upward trajectory in 2026.
The contrast is all the more stark given that the extensively revised AMR26 was supposed to use the Hungaroring race precisely to shake off its lethargy. New bodywork, major aerodynamic work, weight reduction, and extensive modifications: Aston Martin had not just made a simple makeup touch-up, but practically a second version of his single-seater.
Martin Brundle Yet she had found her attractive from the sidelines: She seemed well-balanced; she wasn't moving around too much. »
That's the problem with beautiful cars: the stopwatch, that crude thing, stubbornly refuses to rate elegance.
Three sessions, three reminders of reality for Alonso
In EL1, Charles Leclerc dominated in 1'19''075, ahead Max Verstappen at 0.484 and Lewis Hamilton at 0''543. Alonso only managed 13th place, 2.475 seconds behind, while Lance stroll finished 21st after a suspension failure prematurely ended his work.
In EL2, Classic Ferrari for sale once again set the pace. Hamilton set the fastest time at 1'18''729, ahead of Leclerc of 0''148 and Land Norris of 0''499. Alonso, sole representative ofAston Martin since the car of Stroll had not been repaired in time, dropped to 19th position, 2.990 seconds behind.
And the third session, the one that was supposed to finally confirm the benefits of the major Silverstone project, did little to improve the picture.
Norris took the lead in 1'17''939, just 0''117 ahead of Hamilton and 0''129 ahead of Kimi Antonelli. Leclerc finished fourth, Piastres fifth, Russell sixth and Verstappen seventh. Three teams seem capable of joining the fight for pole position; Aston MartinShe, however, seems most likely to be eliminated quickly.
Alonso finished 17th, 2.454 seconds behind Norris. Stroll finished just behind him, 18th at 2.994 seconds. The two Aston Martin mainly precede the Cadillac and the Williams which was probably not the new world promised when the pieces were unpacked.
Alonso faces a double qualification
The qualifying rounds will begin this Saturday at 16 p.m. in Budapest. Norris, Hamilton et Antonelli With the gaps between them at 0.129 seconds, the pole position should come down to a few details. AlonsoThe objective will already be much more modest: to survive Q1 without the sixteen new features ofAston Martin don't become sixteen excellent additional reasons to ask for time.
The parallel with Tsolov It's ultimately not very flattering. The young driver is reportedly still paying off the cost of his training, but he's leading his championship. AlonsoHe, on the other hand, possesses the experience, the influence, a brand new factory, and a car rebuilt around the ideas of...Adrian Newey. However, he continues to repay the accumulated promises every Saturday. Aston Martin.
It will take more than an elegant body and a few reassuring comments to reverse the trend. Because in Budapest, the student is moving towards the Formula 1 while the mentor is likely to continue watching Q2 from his garage.
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