Two‑time world champion Fernando Alonso has signaled, perhaps more clearly than ever before, that he intends to keep racing in Formula 1 beyond the 2026 season. In a candid interview at the Historic Grand Prix in Monaco, the 44‑year‑old driver said he hopes 2026 will not be his final year in the sport, emphasizing that he still feels competitive, motivated and genuinely happy when he is behind the wheel. Alonso’s contract with Aston Martin is set to expire at the close of the current season, and the Spaniard has already hinted that his future will be reassessed this year.
He previously explained that a lack of competitiveness in his car would make retirement a tougher decision, and recent events have only underscored that point. After being forced to retire from the opening two races due to technical issues, Alonso managed to finish 18th at the Japanese Grand Prix – the only race so far in which either of the Aston Martin cars has completed the full distance. "The time will tell.
I will feel it," he told reporters during the Monaco historic event. "At the moment, I don't feel it's that time yet. I feel competitive, I feel motivated, I feel happy when I drive. So, yeah, hopefully not the last season." The veteran driver also reflected on his lifelong passion for motorsport, noting that he first got behind a steering wheel when he was just three years old.
"I love what I do. I love racing. I did my first race when I was three years old, and I am 44, so 41 years of my life I have been behind a steering wheel. The moment I have to stop racing will be a very hard decision and difficult to accept," he added.
Aston Martin’s 2026 campaign has been anything but smooth. The team entered the new era of regulations with high expectations, buoyed by the arrival of design legend Adrian Newey and a fresh works partnership with Honda. Yet, despite the technical pedigree, the team has struggled to find pace.
Alongside new entrant Cadillac, which was always expected to start at the back of the grid, Aston Martin has failed to score a single point in the first three race weekends of the season. Alonso’s 18th‑place finish in Japan remains the only occasion where an Aston Martin car has crossed the finish line after completing the full race distance. These performance woes have broader implications for the team’s driver lineup heading into 2027. If Aston Martin cannot improve its results, the pool of top‑tier drivers willing to join a back‑marker outfit may be limited, potentially leaving the team with few alternatives to replace Alonso.
Conversely, the Spaniard may be reluctant to retire after a season that has been, by his own admission, disappointing. Beyond the immediate concerns of driver contracts, the 2026 season marks a pivotal moment for Formula 1 as a whole. The sport has introduced a sweeping set of technical changes aimed at improving racing spectacle, reducing costs, and promoting sustainability.
New aerodynamic concepts, larger wheels, and a shift toward more standardized components have forced every team to rethink their design philosophies. For Aston Martin, the transition has been particularly challenging, as the team attempted to integrate Newey’s revolutionary concepts with Honda’s power unit, a combination that has yet to deliver the expected performance gains.
Fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see whether the team can turn the tide before the season’s midpoint. The upcoming Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for May 1‑3, will feature the second Sprint race of the year, offering another opportunity for the team to showcase any progress. Sky Sports will broadcast the event live, and viewers can stream the coverage via NOW without a long‑term contract.
Alonso’s personal outlook adds another layer of intrigue. While he acknowledges the difficulties of the current package, his statements suggest a deep-rooted love for the sport that transcends short‑term results. He has previously expressed that retirement would be a hard decision, especially after dedicating more than four decades to racing.
This emotional connection, combined with his competitive nature, could see him continue to fight for better results, perhaps even influencing Aston Martin’s development direction as they strive to close the gap to the front‑running teams. In summary, Fernando Alonso’s recent comments make it clear that he does not view 2026 as his swan song. He remains eager to compete, motivated by the thrill of racing, and hopeful that his team can improve its fortunes.
As the season progresses, both the driver’s future and Aston Martin’s performance will be closely scrutinized, with the potential for significant developments both on and off the track. Whether the Spaniard will ultimately stay beyond 2026 will depend on a combination of personal satisfaction, team competitiveness, and the ever‑evolving landscape of Formula 1.