Fernando Alonso’s Formula 1 future beyond 2026 remains undecided, but the 45-year-old Aston Martin driver is already facing pressure from several senior figures to continue racing. The FIA, Aston Martin and Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali have all indicated they want Alonso to remain on the grid, while Max Verstappen has even discussed a potential Le Mans programme with the Spaniard.
Alonso again refused to provide a definitive answer about 2027 at the Madrid Grand Prix, suggesting fans and media will have to wait before discovering whether he intends to continue his remarkable F1 career.
The level of attention surrounding the decision is unusual. Alonso is now 45, yet his future remains one of the major talking points in the paddock, despite the fact that the Spaniard has already stepped away from Formula 1 once.
Alonso has already walked away from F1 once
Alonso left Formula 1 at the end of 2018 after becoming increasingly frustrated by McLaren’s lack of competitiveness. He subsequently returned to the championship with Alpine in 2021, demonstrating that retirement did not necessarily mean the end of his career.
That history is one reason speculation over 2027 has become particularly intense. Alonso remains one of the most experienced and competitive drivers on the grid, and his motivation could be renewed if Aston Martin produces a significantly more competitive car under its new technical structure.
The current AMR26 has not provided the platform Alonso would have hoped for, making the prospect of a more competitive Aston Martin potentially important to his decision.
Verstappen opens the door to Le Mans partnership
There is also evidence that Alonso’s future could extend beyond Formula 1.
Max Verstappen revealed that he and Alonso have discussed the possibility of competing together at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alonso won the endurance classic in 2018 and 2019, while Verstappen has increasingly spoken about his ambitions away from F1.
“We talked about it. He is still very fast and has experience, but we will only do it if we have a real chance of winning, ” the Dutchman said.
The comments do not confirm that Alonso will continue racing beyond 2026, but they underline the Spaniard’s standing among his peers and suggest there are still major competitive ambitions attached to his future.
FIA president makes unusual intervention
The strongest indication that influential figures want Alonso to remain in Formula 1 came from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Speaking at the New Economy Forum in Madrid, Ben Sulayem appeared to address Alonso’s frustrations with the current competitive situation and revealed that he had personally spoken with both the Aston Martin driver and team owner Lawrence Stroll.
“We absolutely cannot allow a great champion to leave just because of circumstances and performance. Yesterday I met with the team owner and the driver himself because I intend to make some necessary changes to change his mind. I invited him to tell me what he wants us to do to improve these results,” he said.
The comments are notable because a driver’s retirement would ordinarily be regarded as a personal decision. In Alonso’s case, however, the FIA president appears determined to explore whether changes can be made that might influence the Spaniard’s thinking.
Aston Martin wants Alonso to stay
Aston Martin is equally keen to retain its most experienced driver.
There have been reports that Lawrence Stroll is working towards a one-year contract for Alonso with an option for a second season. Team trackside operations manager Mike Krack has also made clear that the team is not currently preparing for life without him.
“We want to continue with him and are looking for a solution. We’re not thinking about other names or Plan Bs,” Krack stated.
“If he were to leave us, it would be tragic.”
That level of commitment means Alonso is unlikely to face a lack of opportunities if he decides he wants to continue. The bigger question is whether Aston Martin can give him a car capable of satisfying his competitive ambitions.
The comparison with Valentino Rossi is therefore more about the determination of a sporting organisation to retain a hugely popular champion than an indication that Alonso’s retirement decision is being taken out of his hands.
For now, the decision remains Alonso’s. But with Aston Martin pushing to keep him, the FIA president intervening and Verstappen discussing future endurance racing possibilities, there is clearly no shortage of people hoping the Spaniard’s career continues beyond 2026.
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