“Whenever I watch TV, I think I would do better” – The Real Reason Fernando Alonso Stays in F1

Fernando Alonso confirms Aston Martin stay for 2027

Fernando Alonso will remain in Formula 1 for the 2027 season after officially agreeing to extend his Aston Martin contract. The announcement, which had been expected for some time, was finally made ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia and will take Alonso into his 24th season at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Most members of the Formula 1 paddock already expected Alonso to continue, helping explain why Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack repeatedly described himself as “relaxed” while the announcement was delayed. Alonso said the contract renewal itself was uncomplicated and followed a recent decision to continue working with Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll.

“I took the decision quite recently, and sitting with Lawrence was very straightforward,” he said. “We didn’t have much to discuss. We both wanted to continue at that point. It was a five-minute talk and then we announced it.”

Alonso still feels motivated to race in Formula 1

The timing of the agreement is notable because Alonso had previously indicated in Madrid that his future would depend substantially on Formula 1’s regulation changes for 2027. The balance between internal-combustion engine power and electrical power is scheduled to move towards a 60-40 split in two stages, with the 2027 regulations set to use a 58-42 division.

Although there have been no changes to next year’s regulations since Alonso’s comments in Madrid, he has decided to continue because he still feels motivated and competitive. The Aston Martin driver said he has no certainty that the 2027 cars will be more enjoyable to drive, but believes the decision to race must come from his own desire to compete.

“I have no guarantees that 2027 will be more fun, but it is a commitment that you have to make to yourself,” he continued. “And at the end of the day, I feel fast, I feel motivated and I feel that I’m enjoying what I’m doing.

Asked by Motorsport.com about the motivation behind his decision, the Spaniard explained that watching Formula 1 races from home would likely reignite his belief that he could perform better.

“If I’m sitting at home watching TV and watching the races, I will feel that I can do better than them.

“That’s what I felt in a way when I was away from F1 and when I was watching the races. I was thinking, ‘Wow, this and that is not right’. I was always feeling the fire inside of being there and trying to do better.

“I still feel it now and I said, you know, until I have that fire inside, I think it’s no time to stop.”

Fernando Alonso jokes about racing at 46

Alonso will still be competing in Formula 1 at the age of 46 when the new contract begins. After discussing the five-minute conversation with Stroll, Alonso was asked how long he had needed to consider another season with his family. He responded by distinguishing his professional decision from his family responsibilities.

“Well, that was not about the family duties, but more about my way of understanding life and motorsport.

“My wife is very supportive, she’s feeling the pain this year as well and she’s worried about my health when we are not competitive! So I think it’s better to… she prefers me away when we are not competitive!”

Aston Martin driver continues to seek 2027 regulation changes

Despite committing to Aston Martin, Alonso continues to push for changes to Formula 1’s power-unit regulations. In Madrid, he said he had not completely abandoned hope of adjustments before the start of next season. He later presented a specific proposal in Baku to limit the battery’s maximum power for longer periods.

Alonso believes that approach could create more natural speed profiles, with drivers reaching maximum speed at the end of a straight rather than halfway along it before entering clipping or super clipping. No changes have been made on that issue since Madrid, but Alonso said he remains hopeful.

“I have hopes, yes.”

The two-time world champion also used the one-off visit to Sepang to highlight how the current regulations affect the racing experience. According to Alonso, drivers must conserve battery power through much of the circuit to ensure they have enough electrical energy for the three consecutive straights leading from Turn 15 to the final corner, from the final corner to Turn 1, and from Turn 1 to Turn 3.

“We come to an incredible circuit now, but it’s going to be sad in the middle sector because we cannot use the battery there”, he said.

“If you do, then you don’t have [any battery] for the three consecutive straights from Turn 15 to the last corner, from last corner to Turn 1, and from Turn 1 to Turn 3.

“You have to use the full battery on those three straights, so the rest is just charging the battery. That is the problems we are facing now, in terms of bringing the cars to the limit of the grip. But I decided that, maybe next year with the 60-40 split and with the second year of these rules, maybe there is a little bit of a better compromise on that.”

Alonso gives Aston Martin project another opportunity

Alonso’s decision also gives Aston Martin another season to deliver on its ambitious Formula 1 project. The Spaniard said the team’s investments behind the scenes deserved another opportunity, while acknowledging that the project has faced uncertainty, particularly on the power-unit side.

“I said, let’s do one more time, let’s give it another opportunity,” he explained. “Especially on the power unit side, we started with the wrong foot and it is a question mark what is going to happen next year. But yeah, I think they deserve another opportunity and I still feel fast.”

Why This Matters

Alonso’s 2027 commitment ensures that one of Formula 1’s most experienced drivers will remain on the grid as the sport continues adjusting to its evolving power-unit regulations. His comments also underline the technical concerns drivers have about battery deployment, energy management and how the current rules shape circuit-by-circuit performance.

For Aston Martin, the extension provides another season to develop its project and assess the impact of the next stage of the regulations. Alonso’s continued involvement means the team will have an experienced two-time world champion to evaluate whether the 2027 technical changes produce a better balance between combustion and electrical power.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will Fernando Alonso continue racing in Formula 1?

Fernando Alonso will race for Aston Martin in 2027, which will be his 24th Formula 1 season.

Why did Alonso decide to continue with Aston Martin?

Alonso said he still feels fast, motivated and driven to compete. He also believes Aston Martin’s project deserves another opportunity, particularly as the team prepares for changes to the power-unit regulations.

What regulation changes does Alonso want?

Alonso supports changes to battery-power deployment so that cars produce more natural speed profiles and drivers reach top speed later on straights. He also hopes the 2027 60-40 power split will create a better compromise.