F1 | Here’s who will replace Alonso at Aston Martin when he retires
Fernando Alonso is nearing 45 years old, and the thought of retirement is increasingly imminent. The Spanish driver is still performing like a young man, but age may start to weigh both physically and mentally. While his body remains in excellent condition, the idea of having given everything to this sport is becoming more pressing, and he could decide to step away after this season.
Fernando Alonso’s career numbers hardly do justice to his spectacular achievements: two world championships and 32 Grand Prix wins. Yet many of his career choices came at the wrong time: the move to Ferrari, his temporary retirement, and then returning to McLaren during one of its most difficult periods all played a role. Nonetheless, Fernando Alonso will remain an icon of Formula 1 even after he hangs up his helmet.
The surprise name for his successor
Looking beyond Alonso’s retirement, Aston Martin is already considering potential replacements. The obvious choice might seem to be Charles Leclerc, but the Monegasque driver has reserved judgment until he sees the performance of the new Ferrari SF26 and the new Aston Martin AMR26. A non-competitive car in Ferrari could push him out, but there is no certainty yet regarding the competitiveness of Newey’s first green creation.
As a result, the hottest candidate appears to be one of McLaren’s current drivers: Oscar Piastri. According to journalist José María Rubio, the Australian seems to be Aston Martin’s choice to replace Fernando Alonso starting in 2027. It is no coincidence that the relationship between Oscar and McLaren is reportedly strained, especially after the controversial 2025 season and the so-called “papaya rules.”
For this reason, Piastri may begin exploring potential opportunities elsewhere, with Ferrari also in the background. One thing is certain: no one will ever replace Fernando Alonso’s character, experience, and fighting spirit on the track.
In summary, the potential move of Oscar Piastri to Aston Martin highlights the high-stakes nature of the F1 driver market as it prepares for the post-Alonso era. With the legendary Spaniard’s retirement becoming a realistic prospect, teams are positioning themselves to secure the next generation of elite talent to lead their technical projects. While Oscar Piastri’s future at McLaren remains under scrutiny following the tensions of the previous season, his link to Aston Martin underscores the team’s ambition to remain at the front of the grid by pairing top-tier talent with Adrian Newey’s engineering genius.
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