Fernando Alonso Finally Addresses Retirement Rumours Amid Aston Martin Woes

Last Updated:April 27, 2026, 13:22 IST

Fernando Alonso, 44, insists he is not ready to retire from Formula 1, despite Aston Martin's Honda struggles with the AMR26 ahead of the Miami Grand Prix

Father Time catches up to everyone. But Fernando Alonso continues to show he’s still a step ahead.

The Aston Martin F1 Team driver has reiterated his motivation to keep racing in Formula 1, expressing hope that the 2026 season won’t be the final chapter of his career.

At 44, the oldest driver on the grid, Alonso’s journey stretches from his debut at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix to his current stint with Aston Martin, which began in 2023.

Despite a topsy-turvy start to the 2026 F1 season, and growing whispers about retirement, Alonso has doubled down on his love for the sport.

“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," he said.

Reflecting on how difficult it would be to walk away, he added during the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco: “So the moment I have to stop racing, it will be a very hard decision and difficult to accept."

If things seem steady off track, it’s a different story on it. Aston Martin’s partnership with Honda — expected to usher in a new era — has struggled to find its footing under the 2026 regulations.

The AMR26 is struggling, badly.

Both the internal combustion engine and battery systems have underperformed, with reliability and energy management emerging as key concerns. Adding to the issues, Honda engineers are yet to pinpoint the cause of persistent vibration problems.

Still, Alonso remains optimistic about what lies ahead.

“The time will tell. I will feel it. At the moment, I don’t feel it is that time yet. I feel competitive, I feel motivated, I feel happy when I drive. So, yeah, hopefully not the last season."

Despite the rocky start, Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll are pushing to turn things around as they head into the Miami Grand Prix.

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