Fernando Alonso postpones retirement once again: "Now is not the time"

Written by Sonia Romero
Fernando Alonso postpones retirement once again: "Now is not the time"
Credit: Fernando Alonso, pilote espagnol d'Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team, pose lors du Grand Prix du Japon 2026 à Suzuka. Crédit photo Overtake Agency / Remy Midez

There are seasons that make you want to call it quits. And then there's Fernando Alonso. At nearly 45, the Spaniard is having a particularly tough 2026 season… but retirement is out of the question for him.

At Aston Martin, the reality is harsh. The AMR26 simply isn't up to par. Lack of performance, unreliable machinery, struggles both in single-lap pace and in races: the package falls far short of expectations.

The bottom line: Fernando Alonso has only finished a race once this season, at the Japanese Grand Prix, in a modest 18th place. Suffice it to say that the famous 33rd victory—which has eluded the two-time world champion since 2013—now seems like a mirage.

Retirement? Not on the agenda

In this context, the question inevitably arises: how much longer?

Alonso's answer is crystal clear. He doesn't yet know when he'll stop, but one thing is certain: it won't be anytime soon, he stated at the historic Monaco Grand Prix.

“I don't know if I'll continue. It's hard to predict the future. I love racing; I love what I do. I competed in my first race at age three, and I'm now 44. So I've been behind the wheel for 41 years. I think the moment I stop competing will be a difficult and painful decision to accept. Time will tell; I'll just have to feel it. But for now, I don't feel like that moment has arrived; I feel competitive and motivated. I'm happy when I'm driving. So I hope this season won't be my last in Formula 1,” he told the Automobile Club de Monaco.

Still driven by the competition, he continues to enjoy himself behind the wheel. And for a driver who has spent over 40 years racing, that's no small matter.

Still the same inner fire

Despite the results, nothing seems to dampen his motivation. Not the slump in performance, not the technical struggles, not even the passage of time.

Alonso remains true to himself: demanding, clear-headed, but always ready to fight, even at the back of the grid. A rare mindset, especially after more than 400 Grand Prix races.

A decision that will come… but not now

The Spaniard knows: the day he has to stop will be difficult. But he prefers to wait for the right moment—the one when the desire is no longer there.

For now, that's clearly not the case. And as long as that flame remains lit, even a difficult season won't be enough to extinguish it.