Fernando Alonso continues to break longevity records in the recent history of Formula 1 as he looks ahead to what could be his final season in the sport. Much will depend on his motivation, but a large part of it will be on the improvements that Aston Martin can make to be competitive and continue dreaming of a 33rd victory that has been close but has yet to be achieved. However, the final decision depends on a date, and Alonso, for the first time in a long time, has hinted at when he might retire from F1.
Taking it step by step is essential for a driver who will turn 44 on July 29. 2025 is a year of endurance, of continuing to drive the Aston Martin and thinking about what 2026 might hold, when Fernando’s current contract with the British team expires. The arrival of engineer Adrian Newey has sparked excitement for the medium term, looking ahead to next season, but Alonso prefers to be cautious.
“Right now, it’s impossible to think about 2027,” said Fernando Alonso in one of his latest statements, in which he sets a limit on what could be his career, although he is not closing any doors. The Spaniard has always said that his priority is to compete and, for the moment, he is not able to do so as he would like with Aston Martin. The long-awaited improvements must become a reality, so 2026, with Newey settled in at the helm after a few months of adaptation, could mark a turning point in Alonso’s decision.
The change in F1 regulations
Among the clues given by Alonso, who is not saying anything beyond his contract with Aston Martin, is what will happen in 2026, a very important year in the F1 World Championship due to the change in regulations. There are many factors that could lead Fernando to continue for another season or to leave immediately, but at this point, the Asturian does not want to say too much about his future.
Alonso knows better than anyone the huge following he has behind him, who have been with him for more than two decades. Therefore, caution is the order of the day, even though planning in Formula 1 tends to dictate the script more than in other sports.
Alonso’s reality in 2025
Fernando Alonso is currently in 14th place in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship, which, needless to say, is not going well for the Spaniard. The Aston Martin is causing too many problems in races and has prevented a legendary driver like Alonso from climbing higher than seventh place, which he has achieved twice.
“Right now, I’m not thinking about it. I think the decision will be made next year, around the summer or before, so that we can have things clear as soon as possible,” Alonso said regarding his decision to continue or not beyond 2026. “Right now, the championship is very difficult this year,” acknowledged the Aston Martin driver, who said that the team did not start the World Championship “as competitive as we thought,” but he remains hopeful of “turning the situation around” in the remaining races.
With only 16 points in the standings, the first goal must be to catch up with his teammate, Lance Stroll, who has 20, and get through another year to be the number one driver on his team. From there, any improvement will be taken into account for a hopeful 2026, but improvements are urgently needed if we don’t want to see Fernando hang up his helmet and gloves and leave F1 for good.