Fernando Alonso will turn 45 in July and can still be seen in Fórmula 1. Durante or Grande Prêmio Histórico of Mônaco, held on Saturday (25), the Aston Martin driver declared that he hopes that the 2026 season will not be his last in the category. Seu’s contract ends at the end of this year, but the Spaniard made it clear that the decision on retirement has not been made.
“I love what I do, I love racing,” said Alonso. “I spent 41 years of my life behind the wheel. The moment I have to stop racing, it will be a very tough and difficult decision to accept.” The driver added that he feels competitive, motivated and happy when he drives, and that he will leave the future for time to decide.
Esperança conditioned on car performance
The permanence of Alonso directly depends on the technical evolution of Aston Martin. Last year, the veteran had already signaled that a change of scenery could change his plans. Caso had a competitive single-seater in 2026, the chance of stopping on the rise would be greater. Porém, a problematic car would make it difficult to “give up without trying again”.
Hopes surrounding the Silverstone team were high for this season. The team had a robust investment in structure, transitioned to the Honda engine and hired Adrian Newey, a multi-champion designer who worked on Red Bull and Ferrari. Alonso and Lance Stroll, however, have faced problems since the pre-season.
Testing on the Bahrein revealed a car that was not only slow compared to rivals, but also prone to breakdowns. Ambos drivers suffered breakdowns during preparations, and the team ended the final day of testing almost three hours earlier than planned. Performance on the track confirmed the concerns.
Vibração of the engine affects the structure of the single-seater
The most critical problem involves vibration caused by the combustion engine. Adrian Newey revealed at a press conference that the tremor is capable of affecting even the nerves in the pilots’ hands. Esse even the tremor damages other parts of the single-seater, especially the battery, reducing reliability and performance.
Somado to vibration, the Aston Martin also has a chassis inferior to that of other teams, the result of design choices that did not prove to be competitive compared to the competition. The combination of these factors explains the frustrating results:
- In three races, Alonso only completed Japão’s GP, finishing 18th
- Lance Stroll still hasn’t managed to finish a single stage
- The single-seater proves to be fragile and unreliable in the demands of competition
- Déficit aerodynamic compared to main competitors
- Falta tuning between engine and chassis in setup adjustments
Histórico recent rider
Alonso’s last podium came at the 2023 São Paulo GP, almost three years ago. Sua last victory dates back to 2013, in the Espanha GP – a thirteen year gap without winning a race. Aos 44 years old, the two-time world champion is already experiencing the most challenging phase of his career.
Alonso has spent 41 years competing since he was three years old. Essa virtually lifelong dedication to motorsport has shaped his identity and sense of purpose. Deixar a Fórmula 1 representa, para ele, encerrar um capítulo que consome boa parte de sua existência desde a infância.
Quando interviewed on Mônaco, the pilot made it clear that the decision about his future will not only be technical, but deeply emotional. “Time will tell, I will feel it. At the moment, I still don’t feel like it’s time,” he explained.
Perspectivas for technical recovery
Aston Martin expects to reverse current performance in the medium to long term. Adrian Newey, no stranger to complex aerodynamic solutions, works to improve the AMR26 package. Porém, time is short: the season has already started badly, and significant changes to the engine and chassis take weeks or months.
If the team manages to solve the vibration problems with the Honda engine and improve the car’s structure, Alonso could return to fighting for podiums before the end of the year. Nesse scenario, the possibility of contract renewal would gain strength.
On the other hand, if the situation deteriorates, the Spaniard could prioritize a dignified retirement rather than extending a contract on a weakened project. Alonso’s priority is to compete at a high level, not just participate.
Momento for real approaches
The next Grandes Prêmios will be crucial. Alonso and Aston Martin need to demonstrate rapid evolution to justify optimism about 2026. Até’s unsatisfactory performance now fuels doubts about the viability of a project that promised so much.
The driver made it clear that he still feels energy, motivation and joy behind the wheel. Essa is the truth that matters for your decision. Não will be the age that will determine his future, but rather the ability of the car and the team to offer him honest competition conditions.
Alonso will return to testing and the next races as he always has: looking to get the most out of a car that still has a lot to improve. Seu future on Fórmula 1 will be written in the coming months.