Martin Brundle calls for Aston Martin to replace Fernando Alonso as he urges team to rebuild for future – Former Formula 1 driver Martin Brundle has urged Aston Martin to consider replacing Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll as the team prepares for the next phase of its development under Adrian Newey. Brundle believes the team should build around a younger driver pairing rather than wait for Alonso to decide whether he wants to continue racing in 2027.
The two-time Formula 1 world champion has yet to confirm whether he will remain on the grid next season, with Alonso waiting to see how the sport’s new regulations develop before making a final decision.
Brundle believes Aston Martin should take the initiative rather than allow its 2027 plans to depend on the Spaniard.
Brundle wants Aston Martin to rebuild its driver pairing
Speaking to Sky Sports, Brundle outlined what he would do if he were running the Silverstone-based team.
“If I were running Aston Martin – and this will go down really well – I would rebuild the team for the future. Adrian Newey is relentlessly working on the design, and I would tend to get two 25-year-olds and also revamp the driver pairing,” Brundle said.
His comments would mean Aston Martin moving on from both Alonso and Stroll as it attempts to establish a new driver line-up for the next phase of the team’s development.
Brundle acknowledged that Alonso’s longevity remains impressive, particularly given that the Spaniard is still competing in Formula 1 at the age of 45.
However, the former driver believes Aston Martin should prioritise its longer-term plans.
“While I also love that Fernando is still active in Formula 1 at the age of 45, if I were the team, I would rebuild the driver pairing so that I am ready for the next phase,” Brundle added.
Alonso has yet to decide on 2027
Aston Martin’s position is different. Alonso remains one of the team’s biggest-profile drivers, and the team has continued to leave the door open for him to continue beyond the 2026 season.
The Spaniard has made clear that he does not intend to rush his decision. At the Formula 1 event in Madrid last weekend, Alonso said he would not make his decision “so soon.”
A major factor is the technical revolution coming to Formula 1 in 2027. Alonso wants to understand how the regulations develop before deciding whether he has the motivation to continue his career.
The veteran driver has also been open about his frustrations with the current Formula 1 environment, meaning his eventual decision could depend on more than simply his competitive prospects.
Aston Martin faces a major change under Newey
Alonso’s situation comes at a significant moment for Aston Martin.
Adrian Newey is now leading the team’s technical direction as it works towards becoming a more competitive force in Formula 1. The arrival of the renowned designer has raised expectations surrounding the team’s future, particularly with Honda also playing a key role in Aston Martin’s next-generation project.
That makes the composition of the driver line-up an important part of the team’s long-term planning.
For Brundle, the arrival of Newey represents an opportunity to build a new generation around the team’s future technical project rather than retain the existing pairing.
However, Aston Martin has yet to indicate that it intends to follow that approach, leaving Alonso’s 2027 decision as one of the significant questions surrounding the team’s future.
FIA president backs Alonso’s Formula 1 future
Brundle’s position also contrasts with that of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The FIA president weighed into the discussion in Madrid and made clear that he wants Alonso to remain part of Formula 1.
“We cannot afford to lose him,” Ben Sulayem said.
That underlines the broader interest surrounding Alonso’s future. The Spaniard remains one of the most recognisable figures in the sport, while Aston Martin must balance his experience and profile against its ambitions for the next era.
For now, the final decision remains with Alonso. Aston Martin appears willing to give its veteran driver time to assess the new regulations before committing to his next move.
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The Judge, a nom de plume of an experienced F1 journalist and site founder with long-standing sources across the paddock. With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
