Aston Martin confirmed the contract renewals of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll for the 2027 Formula 1 season, keeping the driver lineup intact for a fifth consecutive year. The agreement guarantees that the Spanish two-time world champion will remain active on the grid through the year he turns 46 years old.

“I will retire from Formula 1, but not now. I still feel fast and motivated, and I have a huge passion for Formula 1 and for the sport. So yes, I am very happy to continue racing in the top category; it is my life,” Alonso said during a press conference in Sepang.

Read also: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll secure Aston Martin seats for the 2027 Formula 1 season

The announcement arrived in Sepang ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, the 16th round of the 2026 calendar, which was moved from Sakhir due to the war in the Middle East. The race marks the championship’s first visit to Sepang International Circuit since 2017. Alonso explained that finalizing the contractual terms with team owner Lawrence Stroll required very little deliberation before the formal announcement on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

“There was no specific date, the decision was very recent. I spoke with Lawrence Stroll and there was not much to discuss: we wanted to continue and extend the contract. The conversation lasted five minutes and, right after everything was settled, we made the announcement,” Alonso stated on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

Key figures behind Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin in 2026

The contract extension consolidates Alonso’s statistical standing in the sport while Aston Martin navigates a challenging competitive campaign in the constructors’ standings.

• 440 starts recorded by Fernando Alonso across his career, the all-time record in Formula 1 history following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku.
• 5 minutes spent in talks between Alonso and team owner Lawrence Stroll to agree on the contract extension through 2027.
• 45 years of age for Alonso at the time of the announcement, with the driver turning 46 during the 2027 season.
• 3 points collected by Aston Martin across the opening 15 rounds of 2026, all scored by Alonso to place the squad tenth in the World Constructors’ Championship.
• 2 World Drivers’ Championships won by Alonso, achieved back-to-back in 2005 and 2006.

Fernando Alonso career milestones and historical timeline

Fernando Alonso started his Formula 1 career in 2001 with Minardi, 25 years before the current 2026 championship. His breakthrough arrived with Renault, where he halted Michael Schumacher’s run of five consecutive world titles by capturing the 2005 and 2006 crowns. Upon winning his first title in September 2005 at age 24, Alonso surpassed Emerson Fittipaldi as the youngest world champion in Formula 1 history at that point, an age record later eclipsed by Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

See also: F1: Aston Martin trusts in Fernando Alonso’s continuity for the 2027 season

A contentious 2007 campaign at McLaren alongside then-rookie Hamilton ended in a championship loss by a single point to Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen, prompting Alonso’s return to Renault in 2008 and a subsequent move to Ferrari from 2010 to 2014, where he narrowly missed out on a third title against Vettel. After an uncompetitive second stint at McLaren, Alonso expanded his activities beyond grand prix racing before returning to the grid, eventually joining Aston Martin alongside Lance Stroll and extending his longevity at the highest level of motorsport.

Pending decisions on the Formula 1 2027 driver market

While Aston Martin confirmed both cockpits for 2027, several seats across the paddock remain unsettled. Speculation continues around Rafael Camara joining Haas for 2027, but the American squad has not officially confirmed the Brazilian driver. A potential seat at Racing Bulls also remains unverified, with Red Bull junior driver Nikola Tsolov linked to the team as options are evaluated.

Schedule for the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia

Track activities at Sepang International Circuit begin on Friday, October 2, 2026, with Free Practice 1 scheduled for 01:30 Brasilia time. The Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia will start on Sunday, October 4, 2026, with the race beginning at 04:00 Brasilia time.