News Summary
- Fernando Alonso drove Ayrton Senna’s Toleman TG183B and McLaren MP4/4 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya ahead of the Spanish GP.
- The Aston Martin driver also got behind the wheel of the McLaren MP4-22 he raced during the 2007 F1 season alongside Lewis Hamilton.
- Alonso, who is still weighing his plans for 2027, will now head to Madrid for the 14th round of the 2026 F1 season.
While the rest of the Formula 1 grid prepares for the challenges of Madrid’s new street circuit, Fernando Alonso spent Wednesday (9) enjoying some of the sport’s most iconic machinery at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
The Aston Martin driver had the opportunity to drive several historic F1 cars, including two machines associated with his boyhood idol Ayrton Senna, before heading to Madrid for this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Alonso first took the wheel of the Toleman TG183B, the car Senna used during the opening four races of his F1 career in 1984. The Brazilian scored his first championship points with the car, although his famous second-place finish at that year’s Monaco Grand Prix came with the subsequent TG184.
The Toleman also has an indirect connection to Alonso’s own F1 career. The British team was sold to Benetton in 1985 and competed under the Italian manufacturer’s name from the following season. Benetton later became Renault in 2002, with Alonso going on to win his two world championships with the French manufacturer in 2005 and 2006.
Alonso has yet to make a final decision on whether he will continue racing in F1 beyond 2026. His current Aston Martin contract runs through the end of the season, while the Spaniard has repeatedly stressed that motivation and enjoyment will be decisive in determining his future.
Another highlight of the day was the iconic McLaren MP4/4 from 1988, one of the most dominant cars in F1 history.
McLaren won 15 of the 16 Grands Prix that season, with Senna taking eight victories on his way to his first world championship. The Brazilian beat teammate Alain Prost in a fierce title battle and established himself as one of the defining figures of the era.
Alonso has never hidden his admiration for Senna, making the chance to drive the MP4/4 particularly significant.
The Spaniard also had the opportunity to revisit a more personal chapter of his own career by driving the McLaren MP4-22 from 2007.
That season was defined by Alonso’s intense rivalry with rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton. The pair finished level on 109 points in the Drivers’ Championship, while Kimi Räikkönen took advantage of the battle between the McLaren drivers to claim the title with Ferrari.
The event offered Alonso a rare opportunity to connect different stages of F1 history: Senna’s breakthrough years, one of the most dominant cars ever built and his own first season with McLaren.
It also came at an important moment in Alonso’s current career. The 45-year-old remains one of the oldest drivers on the F1 grid and has recently left the door open regarding his future, while Aston Martin continues to hope he will remain involved beyond 2026.
After retiring from the Italian GP at Monza last weekend, Alonso will now turn his attention to the new Madrid circuit for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Formula 1 returns from September 11-13 for the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new street circuit. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action from the 14th round of the 2026 season.
FAQ
Will Fernando Alonso race for Aston Martin in 2027?
Alonso has not made a final decision about his F1 future beyond the 2026 season. His Aston Martin contract expires at the end of the year, and he has said his motivation and enjoyment will play a major role in deciding whether he continues racing.
Which F1 cars did Ayrton Senna drive in 1984?
Senna began his F1 career with Toleman in 1984. He initially raced the TG183B before switching to the TG184, the car he drove to second place at the Monaco Grand Prix that year.
When is the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix?
The Spanish Grand Prix takes place from September 11-13 at Madrid’s new street circuit. It is the 14th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
