Speed, style, and Monaco magic: Alonso’s perfect Sunday ride

©Instagram

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©Instagram

Monaco has seen its fair share of fast cars and famous faces, but some combinations still feel a little extra special. Case in point: Fernando Alonso, perched above the Principality, standing beside the Aston Martin Valiant – a machine that exists largely because he wanted it to.

This isn’t just another exotic in an enviable collection; it’s a road-legal, track-focused statement, handcrafted by Aston Martin’s Q division and limited to just 38 examples worldwide.

At its heart sits a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, built for the kind of driving that doesn’t believe in half measures.

Valued north of £2 million, the Valiant was commissioned by Alonso himself and shaped by his obsession with feel, precision, and the thrill of pushing right to the edge – whether that edge is a circuit kerb or a mountain road overlooking the Mediterranean.

First announced in June 2024 and unveiled by Alonso at the Goodwood Festival of Speed a month later, the Valiant was born from the same spark that’s fueled his F1 career for over two decades.

Inspired by Aston Martin’s anniversary special Valour, Alonso pushed for something sharper, louder, and more uncompromising — a car that blurs the line between race machine and road weapon.

“Perfect Sunday ride. Valiant, you’ve got it all,” Alonso wrote on Instagram, flanked in a second picture by his partner, Melissa Jimenez.

Some drivers collect cars. Others help build them. Fernando Alonso, as ever, prefers to do things his own way.

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.