Fernando Alonso shares what will truly decide his F1 future after Adrian Newey’s comment
Fernando Alonso has shared what will help him decide whether to retire after the 2026 Formula One season.
With the 2026 summer break coming up soon, talks about the 2027 F1 line-up are already starting. More than half of the 22 drivers have contracts ending this year, including some of the biggest stars. Many others are only signed until the end of 2027. Because of this, big team changes are expected in the next few months. One of the biggest stories will likely be what happens with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
But it’s not just Verstappen who might switch teams. Alonso, a seasoned F1 driver, has been thinking about retiring after this season. This year, he hinted in Barcelona that it could be his last time racing at his home Grand Prix, which made people think he’s almost decided to retire.
However, Aston Martin’s team boss Adrian Newey suggested otherwise. He said a big upgrade planned for the Hungarian Grand Prix might convince Alonso to keep racing. Newey said, “It’s very important. Fernando is excited about the upgrade and if it works well, we hope he’ll stay for another season. With his experience and skill, he’s a huge help in developing the car. But he wants to see clear progress. If we can prove we’re heading in the right direction, he’s ready to stay behind the wheel.”
Even though Newey is confident about the upgrade, Alonso says it might not decide his retirement. During the British Grand Prix, he told reporters, “It’s not just about the car. If the car is great or not, there are other things I need to think about. Maybe the car is fantastic but I feel the sport is going the wrong way. Or maybe the car doesn’t improve much in Budapest, but we have another upgrade or a new plan for next year, or the team atmosphere changes and makes me want to keep going. So the upgrade helps, no doubt. I hope to have a good race in Budapest before the holiday, but it’s not the only thing I’m deciding on.”
This season started with high hopes for Aston Martin, but so far, they’ve struggled more than many others. Since Alonso is still chasing his 33rd race win, it’s understandable that he might not feel motivated to stay with a car that struggles to even reach the top 10, let alone win.