- Fernando Alonso Extends Aston Martin Stay as Team Retains 2027 Driver Line-Up
Fernando Alonso will remain in Formula One with Aston Martin for the 2027 season after extending his contract with the British team, ending speculation that the two-time world champion could retire at the conclusion of the current campaign.
Aston Martin also confirmed that Lance Stroll had extended his long-term contract, preserving the team’s driver pairing for a fifth consecutive season.
The agreement means Alonso, already Formula One’s oldest active driver, will continue competing beyond his 46th birthday. The Spaniard also indicated that 2027 might not be his final season in the championship.
“I don’t think this will be my last year in Formula One,” Alonso said. “That’s how I see it. I have more experience now and I get organised better. I think I can continue for several years.”
Alonso joined Aston Martin in 2023 and has recorded eight podium finishes with the Silverstone-based team, including two second-place finishes. He holds the Formula One record for the most race starts, with 440, and has won 32 grands prix since making his debut in 2001.
The extension reflects Alonso’s belief in Aston Martin’s long-term project despite a difficult 2026 season.
The team has scored only three points from the opening 15 rounds and sits 10th in the 11-team constructors’ standings. Alonso has secured all three points, while Stroll is yet to score.
“I took my time to make this decision, but racing is my life, my passion, and I know I still have the speed and determination to compete at the highest level,” Alonso said.
“I’m committed for the long term with this team and to helping us succeed. I truly believe in what we are building: we have strong leadership, incredible people, partners and facilities.”
Retaining Alonso gives Aston Martin continuity at a time when its performance has fallen well short of the ambitions attached to its investment in personnel, facilities and its partnership with Honda.
The team entered Formula One’s new technical era with Adrian Newey leading the development of its car and Honda supplying its power unit. But the combination has yet to produce a consistently competitive package.
Alonso has openly criticised the characteristics of the current cars and hybrid engines, particularly the emphasis on energy management. His decision to remain suggests he believes Aston Martin can eventually convert its engineering resources into a front-running car.
The extension also gives the team one of the grid’s most experienced development drivers. With regulations still relatively new, Alonso’s feedback could be valuable as Aston Martin attempts to understand its weaknesses and close the gap to the leading teams.
However, keeping the same drivers will also increase scrutiny of Stroll, who has competed for the team owned by his father, Lawrence Stroll, since its Racing Point era.
The Canadian has not won a Formula One race and has struggled to match Alonso during their partnership. Aston Martin’s decision suggests the team values stability and experience over introducing a younger driver.
Lawrence Stroll said retaining both drivers supported the team’s ambition to become a championship contender.
“We are here to win, and whilst our short-term focus remains on improving performance, I believe we have the world-class talent we need to achieve our long-term objectives,” he said.
Alonso has suggested his relationship with Aston Martin could continue after he eventually stops racing.
“I’m going to be with Aston Martin for a long time,” he said. “We’ll see in what position. At the wheel or away from it, we’ll decide that later.”
The former Renault driver, who won consecutive world championships in 2005 and 2006, has also expressed interest in competing in the Dakar Rally and making another attempt to win the Indianapolis 500.
But retirement from Formula One is not yet immediate.
“Age is not a problem,” Alonso said. “It’s just the motivation, the fun, what remains to be achieved.”
His decision gives Aston Martin certainty over its drivers for 2027. It does not resolve the team’s more difficult problem: producing a car capable of rewarding Alonso’s faith.
For a team built around substantial investment and championship ambition, continuity can provide stability. But unless Aston Martin’s performance improves, an unchanged driver line-up could also underline the widening gap between its long-term promises and its results on the track.
