Fernando Alonso postpones decision on future in Formula 1 and maintains desire to compete By Thiago Lemos
4 min read
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Driver Fernando Alonso revealed on August 21, 2026 that he has not yet set a final date to decide whether to remain in Formula 1 from 2027 onwards. With his current contract with Aston Martin ending this season, the Spaniard plans to speak with Lawrence Stroll and Adrian Newey to outline his next career moves.
Previously, Alonso had indicated that a resolution on its continuity would be taken “around the European summer”. However, the return of Formula 1 from the August break, marked by the Dutch Grand Prix, takes place without the two-time champion having made any official statement on the matter.
When asked in Zandvoort about the timetable for this choice, Alonso was transparent: “I don’t have any [deadline]. I just got back from vacation, so I’ll see in the next few days, weeks or months.”
He also mentioned, “I know Lawrence is coming this weekend, so I’ll have lunch or coffee with him and maybe go to Monza [September 4-6], or I don’t know when he’s coming next.”
The driver added that he will soon be at the factory for testing in the Madrid simulators: “So maybe, if Lawrence or Adrian are around, I can sit with them. Maybe in the next few weeks.”
Aston Martin’s performance and the impact on Alonso’s choice
Aston Martin’s performance is an aspect that could influence Alonso’s choice, especially after a challenging start to 2026, where the team scored just one point. However, the Spaniard highlighted that the immediate result of the upcoming improvements will not be the crucial factor in his stay.
A escuderia já demonstrou progressos com o AMR26 em Budapeste, após significativas alterações no chassi, e agora Zandvoort será palco para as primeiras atualizações no motor Honda. For the two-time champion, more relevant than the pure increase in performance is the validation that Aston Martin is heading on the right path in its development process.
“I hope we see some benefit, for sure, in terms of power, drivability and the things we were missing,” said the driver. “But for me, it’s more important, as happened in Budapest with the chassis issue, to see that there is a philosophy of understanding what the needs are and taking a step forward.”
Regarding progress, he detailed: “In Budapest, we knew we weren’t going to compete for the top positions, but we wanted to check that the direction we were going in regards to the chassis was the right one, and I think we achieved that.”
“So that’s something that’s encouraging for the future, the fact that the correlation is good and what we expected has been delivered. Now, with the engine, it’s the same thing.”
The experienced driver added: “I think they’ve made some changes to the engine, so it would be good to confirm that everything is working as expected, and if it’s a tenth or a second, it doesn’t really matter. We’re too late to worry about a number. We just want to see what we expect to be delivered.”
Fernando Alonso’s plans for the future beyond the F1 grid
Even considering a possible departure as a Formula 1 driver, Alonso assured that his relationship with Aston Martin will remain. The Spaniard reiterated that he does not intend to completely move away from competitions, envisioning new adventures in other forms of motor sport.
He stated of his connection with the team: “I will be with this team in one form or another for the long term. It’s not about me or who will be driving next year, or whether I will be driving next year or the next three years. I don’t know.”
Alonso emphasized his passion for motorsport: “Talking to Lawrence and Adrian and understanding the team’s needs means I should race. I will consider the situation. I will be happy if I can be more useful in another position.”
He added a blunt statement about his motivation: “But I need to drive something. That’s for sure. I need to race. I need to feel the adrenaline. I’m a competitor.”
With a CV that includes victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship, as well as participation in the Dakar Rally and the Indianapolis 500, Alonso demonstrates that he has a wide range of possibilities if he chooses not to continue in Formula 1.
He reiterated his focus on other challenges: “I have every challenge in mind, as I’ve said many times, whether it’s winning the Dakar one day, trying the Indianapolis 500 again or whatever challenge comes next.”
