Fernando Alonso’s got 38 identical twins scattered across the planet. That’s how many Aston Martin Valiants exist in the entire world. The two-time champion’s spending his winter break bombing around Monaco in one of them whilst most drivers are recovering from 24 races across nine months. Because nothing says “I need a rest” quite like piloting a 734-horsepower carbon-fibre monster with your employer’s badge on the bonnet, does it?
The 43-year-old Spaniard posted photos on Instagram posing with his ultra-rare toy outside Monaco’s predictably glamorous streets. Custom number plate reading #14. Twin-turbocharged V12 engine. Approximately £2.5 million price tag. Just another Sunday afternoon for someone who finished 10th in the championship with Aston Martin after they stopped developing their car in April.
This comes days after Alonso was spotted driving an even rarer Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR around the same streets. That particular unicorn costs somewhere between £9 and £13 million, with only 228 ever built. His garage contains more automotive value than most teams’ annual budgets. Which is either impressive dedication to collecting or spectacular evidence that F1 salaries remain completely absurd.
When Your Employer Builds Your Personal Toy
The Valiant isn’t just some off-the-shelf supercar Alonso bought because he fancied something loud. Aston Martin’s Q department built this specifically after the driver commissioned it. That’s bespoke manufacturing for someone whose relationship with the team has delivered precisely zero race wins since he joined in 2023.
The car was announced in June 2024 as a collaboration between Alonso and Aston Martin’s special projects division. He unveiled it at Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, calling it a “masterpiece” whilst explaining his vision for something more extreme than their already bonkers Valour model.
“Valiant is born from my passion for driving at the limit and I have enjoyed working closely with the Q by Aston Martin team on both the design and technical specification and believe we have created a masterpiece.” – Fernando Alonso
Fair enough. When you’ve completed 427 Grands Prix and won 32 of them, commissioning hypercars probably feels like ordering takeaway. Except this particular order cost £2.5 million and features a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 that produces 734 horsepower. That’s F1-inspired technology and exotic materials wrapped in aggressive carbon bodywork designed to terrify pedestrians.
Marco Mattiacci from Aston Martin delivered the expected corporate enthusiasm about their collaboration, calling it a “modern masterpiece” that embodies the brand’s commitment to building rare cars for “true drivers.” Which is diplomatic language for admitting they’ve created something spectacularly impractical that only 38 people worldwide can actually afford.
The £210,000 SUV Nobody’s Talking About
Here’s the properly entertaining detail everyone’s missing. Alonso also took delivery of an Aston Martin DBX S just before Christmas. That’s the £210,000 performance SUV finished in Ultramarine Black with 727 horsepower from a Mercedes-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8.
So within a week, the Spaniard collected both a practical family hauler and an utterly ridiculous track-focused hypercar. Both from his employer. Both wearing Aston Martin badges. That’s either brilliant brand loyalty or contractual obligation taken to its logical extreme.
The DBX S hits 62mph in 3.3 seconds despite weighing considerably more than the Valiant. It’s one of the most powerful SUVs on the market, boasting improved agility through weight reduction and chassis upgrades compared to the base model. Perfect for collecting groceries in Monaco whilst demonstrating you’ve got more money than sense.
When “Outstanding” Is Your Instagram Caption
Alonso’s Instagram response to receiving the DBX S? One word: “Outstanding.” That’s the enthusiasm of someone whose garage already contains vehicles worth tens of millions. What’s another £210,000 SUV when you’ve already got the CLK GTR and the Valiant parked nearby?
The Monaco dealership posted photos of the delivery with predictably festive messaging about Christmas presents. Almost 50,000 people liked the post within days. One follower declared it “by far the best sport SUV around.” Which might be accurate if you’ve got £210,000 burning holes in your bank account and desperately need something practical that also does 190mph.
The 2026 Hope Nobody’s Mentioning
What makes Alonso’s supercar collection particularly interesting is the timing. He’s just endured a disappointing season where Aston Martin abandoned development early to focus on 2026 regulations. The team finished seventh in the constructors’ championship. His teammate Lance Stroll qualified ahead of him precisely zero times across 24 races.
Now Alonso’s banking everything on next year’s reset. New facilities completed. Their own wind tunnel operational. Honda power units exclusively for Aston Martin. Adrian Newey as team principal. That’s substantial investment aimed at championship challenges rather than midfield mediocrity.
“We have our new facilities completed now, we have our own wind tunnel. We have Honda as engine supplier only for us, Aramco, Adrian Newey. So, we have some good things to be optimistic.” – Fernando Alonso
That’s cautious optimism from someone who’s spent years waiting for competitive machinery. The 2026 regulations represent his best opportunity since leaving Alpine. Completely new cars. Revolutionary power units. Active aerodynamics. Nobody knows what works yet, which means everyone starts level.
But if those hopes collapse like they did in 2025, at least he’s got the Valiant to console himself. Perfect for angry laps around Monaco whilst contemplating retirement. Again.
When Your Car Collection Becomes News
Here’s the uncomfortable question nobody’s asking. Why does Alonso’s personal vehicle ownership generate headlines? Because he’s spent the past three seasons delivering underwhelming F1 results whilst collecting progressively more expensive toys?
The Mercedes CLK GTR spotting happened days before the Valiant photos emerged. That’s two separate supercar stories within a week, both featuring vehicles worth more than most people earn in lifetimes. It’s either brilliant personal branding or evidence that his off-track activities generate more excitement than his racing lately.
Perhaps when your employer stops developing the car in April and condemns you to nine months of irrelevance, collecting hypercars becomes the only achievement worth celebrating? At least the Valiant delivers performance Alonso can actually control. Unlike the AMR25, which spent most of 2025 comprehensively disappointing everyone involved.
