Fernando Alonso to race for Aston Martin in 2027 as he backs his speed and the team’s potential

Fernando Alonso will race for Aston Martin in Formula 1 in 2027, extending his career by at least another season after months of uncertainty about his future. The 45-year-old told BBC Sport that he still believes he has the speed to compete, while Aston Martin’s long-term prospects persuaded him to stay despite a difficult 2026 campaign. The decision keeps a two-time world champion on the grid as the team tries to improve its car and Honda engine.

Alonso said the clearest reason for continuing was his confidence in his own driving. ‘I still feel as fast as anybody,’ he told BBC Sport, describing racing as a way of life. That is Alonso’s assessment of his ability, rather than an independently established comparison with other drivers. He said he would be ready to watch races from home when he felt he had lost speed or reflexes, but did not believe he had reached that point.

Why he chose another season

The choice was about more than whether Alonso felt quick enough. In his BBC Sport interview, he said he had also weighed Aston Martin’s competitiveness and the sport’s new regulations. The team has spent much of 2026 near the back of the field, leaving him with few chances to demonstrate his pace through prominent results. Alonso said he could take satisfaction from a drive even when the finishing position did not show it.

One example cited by BBC Sport was the Dutch Grand Prix, where Alonso finished ninth after holding off Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda in the final stint. Alonso cautioned that such performances do little to change public perceptions when a driver is away from the podium and receives limited television attention. For now, he said, he had accepted that his team could be competitive on particular occasions without regularly appearing near the front.

BBC Sport reported that a major car update for the Hungarian Grand Prix cut roughly two seconds from lap times. That improvement offered Alonso hope, but it does not establish how Aston Martin will perform in 2027. The team’s current difficulties extend to its Honda power unit. Alonso told the BBC he wanted to give Honda another chance to address its problems, while acknowledging there was no guarantee the engine would be fully fixed next season.

Reservations about the rules

Alonso has been outspoken about Formula 1’s 2026 hybrid cars. BBC Sport reported his criticism of the way electrical energy can run out before some corners and of fast corners being used to recharge batteries. He told the broadcaster that the current cars can require a style of driving that feels unnatural to him. His dislike of the regulations, he said, was the hardest part of deciding to carry on.

He nevertheless saw reason to hope the experience could improve. Alonso pointed to planned changes intended to move the balance between combustion and electrical power towards 60–40 in stages by 2028. He also welcomed discussions among the FIA, Formula 1, drivers and teams about the rules. Those changes and discussions informed his decision; their eventual effect on racing and on his enjoyment of driving remains uncertain.

What the agreement establishes

Cadena SER separately reported Aston Martin’s renewal announcement on Tuesday, 29 September. It quoted Alonso from the team’s announcement video saying he would retire from Formula 1, ‘but not yet’, and that he still felt fast, motivated and passionate about the sport. The Spanish outlet also reported that Lance Stroll will remain alongside him in 2027, making it a fifth consecutive season for the pairing.

The confirmed commitment is for 2027. Alonso hinted to BBC Sport that it might not be his final year, but said he felt no pressure to decide that now. Neither report establishes a further contract or a date for retirement. For Aston Martin, the immediate task remains improving its performance; for Alonso, another season gives him a chance to see whether the team, Honda and the evolving rules can deliver the progress he hopes for.