Fernando Alonso firmly rules out retirement!

Fernando Alonso is the oldest driver in Formula 1 history. At 44 years old, no one has started more races than the Spaniard, with 428 Grands Prix to his name. There was major excitement about seeing Alonso battle head to head with the best once again under the new regulations. 

However, that dream quickly turned into a nightmare with a deeply disappointing Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team powered by Honda.

That reignited the debate over whether it is worth continuing to compete in a car that, at best, simply finishes races. It was natural to think this could be Alonso’s final season in Formula 1, but the two time world champion made it clear in Monaco that he still sees himself racing beyond 2026.

“I don’t know if I’ll continue. It’s hard to say. I love racing, I love what I do. I did my first race when I was three years old and now I’m 44. So I’ve spent 41 years behind a steering wheel. I think the moment I stop racing will be a tough decision and hard to accept. Time will tell, I’ll feel it,” said the Asturian during the historic Grand Prix in the Principality, in comments collected by the Automobile Club de Monaco.

“And for now I don’t feel that moment has arrived. I feel competitive and motivated. I’m happy when I drive. So I hope this won’t be my last season,” the Spaniard concluded.

The issue is that Alonso asked for a car capable of winning, and Aston Martin’s project, the team he has raced for since 2023, alongside Honda, could not have started worse. They were unable to finish a race until the Japanese Grand Prix. As a result, the optimism surrounding the season turned into complete frustration. That is why doubts emerged over Fernando’s future, especially since no drastic turnaround appears likely in the short term.

Another factor that could influence Alonso’s decision is that he has fulfilled another major personal dream: starting a family. A few weeks ago, his first son, Leonard, was born with journalist Melissa Jiménez, and it would also be logical for priorities to shift.

Even so, Alonso continues to insist he still feels capable of competing at the highest level. Even if his Formula 1 debut came 25 years ago and his current car does not even allow him to fight for points. It is clear that the resilience of the man from Oviedo is unmatched in the world of sport.