Fernando Alonso still has plenty of gas left in the tank, and although he is experiencing one of the most difficult seasons of his career, he is looking to the (near) future with optimism. Next year will bring a change in regulations, and the driver is confident that the work done by Aston Martin will finally pay off. The new regulations, technical investments, and personnel changes suggest that things could change compared to this season.
Fernando Alonso confirms he will stay on
Fernando Alonso has confirmed that he wants to try out the new cars for next season, when new regulations come into force that could radically change the current F1 landscape. Therefore, it is almost certain (he has a contract) that next year we will see him behind the wheel of the AMR26.
“I wanted to compete this year for sure and next year for sure because of the rule change, and I wanted to experience the 2026 rules and Honda’s arrival at the team.”
Fernando Alonso explains that the Aston Martin project has been very ambitious since his arrival, and that the commitment for next season is too ambitious not to try. In addition, the added value of signing Adrian Newey, something that was not initially part of the plans, increases the team’s options for next season.
“Then the surprise was that Adrian joined the team a few months later. There were things that attracted us last year when we sat down together to negotiate the contract.”
A future beyond 2026
Fernando Alonso speaks openly about his future, saying he is motivated to race for the next few seasons, but there are many factors that could be key in his remaining years in F1. That’s why, for now, the goal is to race until the end of next year, 2026, and then decide with the team what is best for all parties.
“No (I won’t reach) 50, but I don’t know. That’s why we also kept the possibility open. But after 2026, I don’t know. I’ll take it season by season. I’ll see how I feel, how motivated I am.”
Everything indicates that his continuity after 2026 will be conditional on performance, both Aston Martin’s and his own. If Aston Martin manages to build a winning car and Fernando Alonso gets the most out of it, he may well continue for another year. His presence in 2027 would be assured if he wins the world championship next season, as he would want to defend his title. If Aston Martin fails to meet expectations, the Asturian driver may decide to call time on his career and forget about winning the motorsport crown again. Finally, if he does not feel motivated or competitive next year, he will also stop driving. So it is clear that his continuity beyond 2027 will depend on many factors, both internal and external.
A year of transition
Fernando Alonso takes it for granted that this year will be a tough one in the F1 World Championship. He knows that the team will bring improvements, but he believes it would be a surprise to achieve the tenths of a second that the AMR25 needs to be reasonably competitive and finish in the top 10 on the grid. The first package of upgrades will arrive between the next two races, but all the work at the Aston Martin factory is focused on 2026, and no major updates are expected.
However, Fernando Alonso has confidence in Aston Martin and the resources invested for next season, a season that could be his last, or not: the performance of the car and the team will determine the end of Fernando Alonso’s career as an F1 driver.