Busted: Alonso spotted testing Dakar prototype after denial

Never trust a straight answer from Fernando Alonso. Barely a week after shutting down speculation about a return to the grueling Dakar Rally in 2027, the F1 veteran has been caught red-handed kicking up sand in the Moroccan desert.

Footage published on Instagram by Spanish journalist Gerard Farré revealed Alonso putting an all-black Prodrive prototype through its paces on Friday.

While Prodrive previously partnered with Dacia, the outfit is now reportedly laying the groundwork to field an entry under Aston Martin badging – conveniently aligning with Alonso's current Grand Prix employer.

The spy footage hilariously undermines Alonso’s ironclad denial in Singapore just days ago:

“I’ve read the rumours too,” Alonso said at Marina Bay when questioned about a Dakar bid.

“But no, physically speaking, I don’t think it’s possible. It’s almost impossible to combine two demanding programs like a Formula 1 championship and the Dakar Rally.

“When I take on my next challenge, I’ll announce it myself. Then it won’t be a rumour anymore, I’ll be the one breaking the news. And that won’t happen until I feel my preparation is good enough and it’s a risk worth taking.”

A plot twist on the horizon

So, why the sudden cloak-and-dagger test session in North Africa? Behind the scenes, the stars might be aligning far quicker than the 45-year-old Spaniard has let on.

While the Dakar spectacle traditionally takes place across Saudi Arabia every January, ongoing Middle Eastern unrest has prompted organizers to draw up contingency plans. Morocco has apparently swiftly emerged as a prime alternative host venue.

Read also:

• Alonso denies Dakar 2027 comeback: ‘I don’t think it’s possible’

Should the rally shift to Moroccan soil, the crushing travel schedule and grueling physical demands that Alonso cited as a dealbreaker would vanish almost overnight.

With Prodrive preparing an Aston Martin-badged machine and testing already happening on potential race terrain, Alonso’s “impossible” dual-campaign looks increasingly like a done deal wrapped in classic paddock mind games.