Fernando Alonso will remain in Formula 1 with Aston Martin in 2027 after deciding to extend his contract for another season, with the two-time world champion insisting that he still feels as fast as anyone on the grid. After a deeply disappointing 2026 campaign, Fernando Alonso is prepared to endure his current period of relative anonymity while Aston Martin and Honda work towards what he describes as their coming “moment of truth”.
Fernando Alonso will celebrate his 46th birthday on 29 July 2027, on the eve of practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix. He will do so in the Formula 1 paddock, having chosen to continue with Aston Martin for another season in the hope of becoming far more competitive than during a 2026 campaign that has fallen well short of expectations.
The difficult season can also be viewed in the context of the wider Formula 1 driver standings, with Aston Martin struggling to extract the performance it had hoped for from the sport’s new technical era.
Fernando Alonso explains why he is staying in Formula 1 for 2027
The Honda power unit and the first Aston Martin produced under Adrian Newey’s influence have failed to deliver the expected results under the new regulations. The situation leaves significant room for improvement, with particular attention on whether Honda can produce a more competitive engine from its Sakura programme. Honda has already identified progress with its Formula 1 power unit, although further development remains crucial to Aston Martin’s ambitions.
Despite those difficulties, Fernando Alonso says his motivation to continue racing has not disappeared.
“Why did I decide to stay? First of all, this is my life,” Fernando Alonso said when discussing his renewal, as reported by the BBC. “It’s in my blood, I keep racing and I keep enjoying it. I still feel the confidence in myself, the awareness that I have something more. I still feel as fast as anyone. I can’t stop as long as I continue to think I’m better than many other drivers.”
Fernando Alonso prepares for Aston Martin’s ‘moment of truth’
Fernando Alonso’s confidence also comes from what he continues to observe when Formula 1 cars are on track. The Spaniard believes the mistakes he sees from other drivers during practice sessions reinforce his conviction that he still has the speed required to compete at the highest level.
“In free practice I still see drivers making a lot of mistakes,” Fernando Alonso added. “That reassures me, because I know I’m faster than them. Now I’ve resigned myself to this period of anonymity, we’re preparing for the moment of truth and that will once again be a surprise for everyone.”
For Fernando Alonso, the decision to continue into 2027 therefore rests on more than simply extending an extraordinarily long Formula 1 career. He remains convinced of his own performance level and is prepared to wait for Aston Martin and Honda to show whether the project built around the new regulations can finally deliver the competitiveness that has so far been missing.
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