Fernando Alonso has signed a multi-year contract extension to stay with Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team until at least the end of the 2026 season.
The 42-year-old joined Aston Martin in 2023 and started in remarkable fashion with six podiums in the opening eight races of last season. After finishing the year fourth in the drivers’ championship, Alonso was linked with the vacancy at Mercedes earlier this year but has opted to both continue racing deep into his 40s as well as remaining with Aston Martin.
“It was easy,” Alonso said of the decision. “I think it didn’t change much from when we spoke in February on the car launch. I needed a few races or few weeks to really think about myself, if I was ready to commit for more years in Formula 1, because the calendars are just a little bit more intense now, the car as well, the commitments.
“My love for Formula 1 and my love for Aston Martin didn’t change, but I just wanted this time to make the decision and the commitment. Formula 1 takes all your time, all your energy. You have to give up basically everything in life to keep racing, and I wanted just to speak with myself if I was ready to do so.
“Once I took the decision — I think it was after Australia, something like that — I sat with Aston, which again is exactly the same as what I said in February, that would be my first priority, and it was not too difficult. We both wanted the same. I wanted to keep racing with Aston Martin, Aston Martin also wanted to keep me on the seat. When two parties want something, at one point you reach an agreement.
“So I’m extremely excited to keep racing and keep racing with this team, at which I feel at home. It was also a sense of loyalty that I wanted to express to my team. One year and a half ago, we started together and we achieved so many things — some of them probably unprecedented in Formula 1 to reach so many highs in such a short period of time. I felt this is just the beginning of the journey. It could not be the end of the journey for me and Aston Martin.
“Super, super happy, excited, also for the people at the factory, for the staff, for our partners — we have great partners in the team. So proud of them as well, all our sponsors. So yeah, it feels that it was my natural decision to make, to keep racing and to keep racing with Aston Martin was very easy.”
Team principal Mike Krack says Alonso’s deal takes him through to the new regulations and Honda partnership in 2026 — the year will turn 45 — but the team has no doubts in his ability to continue performing at such a high level.
“Securing Fernando’s long-term future with Aston Martin Aramco is fantastic news,” Krack said. “We have built a strong working relationship over the last 18 months and we share the same determination to see this project succeed. We have been in constant dialogue over the last few months and Fernando has been true to his word: when he decided he wanted to continue racing, he talked to us first. Fernando has shown he believes in us, and we believe in him.
“Fernando is hungry for success, driving better than ever, is fitter than ever, and is completely dedicated to making Aston Martin Aramco a competitive force. This multi-year agreement with Fernando takes us into 2026 when we begin our works power unit partnership with Honda. We look forward to creating more incredible memories and achieving further success together.”