Aston Martin has issued a coy statement on the future of Fernando Alonso at the team ahead of the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix.
Alonso is out of contract at the end of 2026, with speculation rife that he is either about to leave Aston Martin to join Alpine, or retire from the sport completley.
The two-time world champion spending this season relegated to the back of the grid, as issues with the AMR26 and Honda’s power unit severely hinder the team.
Alonso’s home race in Barcelona proved to be a new low, qualifying last and then forced to retire with a battery issue, compounding a miserable weekend,
Addressing the rumours on media day in Austria, Aston Martin Chief Trackside Officer Mike Krack reaffirmed the team’s position that Alonso will stay.
“If you look back one or two seasons ago, we said he is here to stay,” he said to media, including Motorsport Week.
“I think Fernando decided that around the summer break he will take a decision. And we are happy.”
Aston Martin “happy with the drivers”
Krack also confirmed Aston Martin is happy with its driver lineup, with Lance Stroll set to continue at the Silverstone marque.
“We are happy with the drivers. They are in this with us. And also great credit to them, how they deal with it.
“We spoke about this many, many times. That the drivers are the most effective, the most exposed to this.
“And the way they handle it is heads off to the way they handle that. I have great hopes that we continue to work together.”
Krack then delivered a final plea for its star driver to remain.
“Fernando should not retire. He is too quick.”
Alonso faces a choice at the end of the year, the Spaniard at present keeping his cards close to his chest.
Is a return to Alpine a realistic option?
The Alpine option represents a significant crossroads for the 44-year-old. The French constructor, under new ownership and with a revamped technical structure, has been rebuilding quietly and believes it can offer Alonso a more competitive platform in the years ahead. For Alonso, the pull of returning to the team where he won both of his world championships carries an obvious romantic appeal — though sentiment has rarely guided his career decisions.
Yet retirement cannot be entirely dismissed. Alonso has spoken candidly in recent months about life beyond racing, and the grinding reality of midfield obscurity is a far cry from the front-running machinery he spent his prime years chasing. Few drivers of his calibre have endured a season this punishing without serious soul-searching.
Still, those within the paddock who know him best insist the fire remains undimmed. His pace in qualifying, even dragging an uncompetitive car, continues to draw admiration from rivals and engineers alike. Whether that hunger is enough to keep him on the grid beyond 2026 — and in what colours — remains the sport’s most compelling unanswered question heading into the second half of the season.
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