Fernando Alonso has indicated that the technical regulations set for the 2026 Formula 1 season will be a highly significant factor in his decision on whether to retire or continue competing.
The Aston Martin driver, who recently secured his first points of the season with a ninth-place finish in Spain, holds a contract with the team through the conclusion of 2026. By then, he will be 45 years old.
The 2026 season is anticipated to bring the most extensive technical changes in F1 history, with new car regulations poised to potentially reshuffle the competitive order.
When asked about the importance of the 2026 car in evaluating his future options, Alonso stated it would be “very important,” but clarified it wouldn`t necessarily be the “final one” deciding his fate.
He elaborated, “I think I need to see how next year [2025] starts and how motivated I am. Every year, there is a different mood into the season.”
Alonso added that various aspects influence significant life choices, including personal performance, self-assessment of competitiveness, the drive to maintain peak physical fitness, and personal or family circumstances.
Alonso demonstrated his enduring capabilities in 2023, achieving eight podium finishes. He has consistently held an advantage over his teammate Lance Stroll. Stroll`s participation in the upcoming F1 race in Montreal is uncertain after he withdrew from the Spanish Grand Prix due to a hand and wrist injury that requires surgery.
The 43-year-old mentioned that he needs to be “100 per cent sure” about retiring from F1. He previously took a three-season break from the sport after 2018.
He continued, “You need to feel it when it`s time and I don`t feel it yet. I jump in the car and I`m on the grid, and I`m just so happy to be there and motivated and performing well.”
Alonso also noted that the stopwatch will ultimately dictate when he should stop, alongside potential physical issues like pain while driving. “Sometimes you get a little bit injured, you get some bad races. But if we keep it healthy and in good conditions, the stopwatch also will tell me one day that I don`t feel fast enough or I don`t feel that I can put the lap together. But so far, I`m happy with that.”
Despite recent less favourable results, he expressed happiness being on the grid and strong motivation after finishing a race to bounce back and perform better in the next one. “I`m happy when I`m on the grid. When I finish the race on Sunday, even if the results are not nice at the moment, I`m so motivated to go to the next race and try to overcome the bad race and have a better one.”
He concluded by stating these feelings are currently very present, but there`s no guarantee they will persist indefinitely.
Alonso Praises Adrian Newey`s Impact at Aston Martin
Aston Martin is hopeful that the addition of renowned designer Adrian Newey will help them move up the grid in 2026.
Newey, who has celebrated championship victories over 35 years with teams including Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, attended his first Grand Prix representing Aston Martin last month in Monaco. Alonso described the experience as “great to witness.”
Alonso commented on Newey`s influence, “It was fantastic. I think the way he sees things on the car, even statically in the pit lane or at the grid, also in the garage, spotting some things that we could have done better or do better in the future.”
He added that Newey`s presence in team meetings is always special, perhaps not intimidating, but it elevates the team`s standards as everyone becomes more focused on the car`s details. “People that were talking in the meeting knew that they could not say anything too far from the truth because he will spot it.”
Alonso expressed his hope that Newey will attend more races in the future, enabling the team to continue learning from him and improving.
For 2026, Aston Martin is set to be the sole team supplied with a Honda engine, a situation that could offer advantages in closely integrating the car`s chassis and power unit.
Alonso confirmed that Aston Martin`s primary focus is on 2026, describing it as the year “where all the hopes are.”
He added that building momentum in 2025 by delivering track upgrades that make the car faster is necessary to be confident and strong for 2026. This process is expected to boost team confidence and validate their development methods for the 2026 car by ensuring components perform as expected on track.
Alonso acknowledged that there is still some work needed for 2025, but the main focus and hopes are on 2026. He stated that the team understands their current situation and that any updates introduced in 2025 will likely only result in minimal changes to their position and finishing order. He believes the most significant step forward can only realistically happen in 2026, “where all the hopes are.”
Marcus Prine