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Is Fernando Alonso Retiring After 2026? F1 Legend Drops a Big Hint in Monaco
TL;DR
Fernando Alonso hinted at not retiring after 2026, stating he loves racing and feels competitive. He emphasized that deciding to walk away will be difficult when the time comes.
Key points
- Fernando Alonso has spent 41 of his 44 years racing.
- He feels competitive and motivated to continue racing.
- Alonso finds it hard to consider retirement despite speculation.
Mentioned in this story
Fernando AlonsoMonaco
Aston MartinFormula 1
41 of Fernando Alonso‘s 44 years have been spent holding a steering wheel. That’s the math the Spaniard offered up at the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco over the weekend, and it’s also the math that explains why nobody who knows him expects a graceful, scheduled retirement announcement at any point soon.
Alonso, the oldest driver on the current grid and the only one still racing who debuted in the previous millennium, used the Monaco appearance to push back on the assumption that Aston Martin‘s miserable start to 2026 might be nudging him toward the exit. It isn’t.
“I love what I do. I love racing,” he said, before noting that walking away will be “a very hard decision and difficult to accept” whenever it comes. His read on whether that moment has arrived: “I feel competitive, I feel motivated, I feel happy when I drive. So, yeah, hopefully not the last season.”
Why a Retirement Conversation Is Even Happening
The reason anyone is asking Alonso about retirement in the first place is that Aston Martin’s 2026 car is, by every available measure, a disaster. Alonso and Lance Stroll currently sit 21st and 22nd in the drivers‘ standings, which is to say dead last, with the team wrestling both its new chassis and the power unit that was supposed to be the Silverstone outfit’s leap forward. ‘s arrival was supposed to make this the year Aston Martin became serious. Instead they’re starting from the back row and looking up at everyone.
Q&A
Is Fernando Alonso planning to retire after the 2026 F1 season?
No, Fernando Alonso indicated that he is not planning to retire after 2026 and feels competitive and motivated.
What did Fernando Alonso say about his love for racing?
Alonso expressed that he loves racing and finds it hard to imagine walking away from the sport.
Why is there speculation about Fernando Alonso's retirement?
Speculation about Alonso's retirement arose due to Aston Martin's poor performance, but he dismissed these concerns during the Monaco Grand Prix.