Alonso stays on with Aston Martin: I still feel fast
Fernando Alonso is staying in Formula 1 with Aston Martin for at least one more year. The 45-year-old Spaniard confirmed the decision to BBC Sport on 29 September, saying the biggest reason was simple. He still feels fast.
It was described as his only English-language interview about the call. Alonso’s career in Formula 1 dates back to 2001, making him by far the most experienced driver on the grid. He is a double world champion and now the sport’s oldest driver.
The decision ends weeks of open questions about his future. In August, Alonso said he was in no hurry to decide whether he would stay in the Aston Martin seat, according to Formula1.com. By early September he was driving on an expired contract and spoke of longing for “real Formula 1” while he weighed up what came next, Reuters reported.
His drive at the Dutch Grand Prix offered a reminder of what he can still do. Alonso finished ninth after holding off Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda in faster cars through the final stint. That means the closing laps of the race, when tyres are worn and pressure is highest.
This season has a very different technical challenge. Formula 1 introduced new hybrid engines in 2026, with a near 50-50 split between internal combustion power and electrical power. Alonso has nicknamed racing under the new rules the “battery world championship”, a nod to how much drivers must now manage electrical energy.
For fans, this means one more season at least of a familiar sight. Lights out, and the green Aston Martin diving for position with a 45-year-old at the wheel who insists speed is not the issue.
