Alonso ‘saying his goodbyes’ as F1 future in doubt

By Duniya Jan 

Fernando Alonso’s recent struggles have been hard to watch. Aston Martin has failed to grant the former world champion the competitive edge he needs, performing even more poorly than it has in previous seasons despite promises of newfound glory. The disappointing season start has further fuelled already swirling rumours of his retirement in 2027. 

At 44 years of age, Alonso has done what many drivers have failed to do. He has two consecutive WDCs to his name, claiming these titles in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He has also won 32 Grand Prixs across his 23 years in Formula 1. He has enjoyed the stellar highlights of a career in motorsport, many years ago. But time is precisely the problem. The Spaniard’s last podium and race wins were in 2023 and 2013 respectively. The predicament he finds himself in at Aston Martin means it is unlikely that he will add to his list of honours any time soon; the car is in so broken of a state that Alonso himself has stated he cannot finish races due to fear of permanent nerve damage. Team Principal Adrian Newey reportedly may step down because of this, signalling the deep-rooted issues plaguing Alonso’s team. With a consistent lack of prospects for the former WDC winner, it is quite possible that he may choose to retire in 2027. After all, the whole premise of his Aston Martin contract renewal was a revival for the team under the new regulations. 

Should Alonso choose to leave Aston Martin in pursuit of competition, his options would be fairly limited. The doors are likely closed for entry to Ferrari, Mercedes and Mclaren; even if Red Bull should see the much speculated departure of Max Verstappen due his disapproval of the 2026 regulation overhaul, it is likely that Red Bull would search for a younger driver to become the new face of the team. In this hypothetical world, Alonso would then be left with mid-table teams such as Williams and Haas, who themselves seem quite comfortable with their current drivers. 

Rather than discussing where there is space for Alonso, it is a question of who would be willing to make space for the two time world champion. His longevity and ability to, quite literally, drag Aston Martin into the points is nothing short of admirable. It is quite certain that he would gain points consistently in a more competitive car. However, competitors from his time have long since retired; he has outlasted both the iconic Schumacher and his son in the sport, so perhaps his time has come. But Fernando Alonso is the emblem of persistence: 2027 will likely just mark another year of competition.