Breaking: Fernando Alonso announces decision over possible F1 retirement

Fernando Alonso has announced he will return to Formula 1 for the 2027 season, and delay his retirement from grand prix racing for at least another year as Aston Martin confirmed its driver line-up. 

The Spanish driver, the 2005 and 2006 world champion, has been weighing up whether to return for a 24th season in 2027 amid the ongoing struggles of the Aston Martin-Honda package. 

He will be joined for a fifth season by Lance Stroll, who also confirmed his extension to what the team have called "long-term contracts."

Alonso, the most experienced driver in F1 history, with a total of 440 starts, joined Aston Martin in 2023 after leaving Alpine and enjoyed immediate success, with eight podiums in the first season. 

However, the team slipped down the pecking order over the following seasons and hit rock bottom at the start of 2026, with the Adrian Newey-designed machine unreliable and suffering from severe vibrations from its Honda power unit. 

Alonso picked up a point in the Monaco GP before a B-spec car was introduced in Hungary, with a new Honda engine in the Netherlands, where Alonso took ninth for two points. 

The former go-karter from Oviedo has made clear his dissatisfaction with the 2026 F1 rules, describing fast corners as "charging stations" for the batteries and saying that the challenge of driving cars has been reduced.

However, Alonso has now decided to return for 2027 and will extend his career into a 24th season, in which he will pass 450 grands prix entered and started.

Check out Alonso's decision below, and the article continues below. 

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Aston Martin boss speaks

Reacting to the news, the executive chairman Lawrence Stroll spoke of the "world-class talent" the team would have at its disposal. 

"Lance and Fernando have been a crucial part of our journey and we are very pleased to confirm that they will continue with us into the next chapter for the team," he said.

"Having two drivers with their level of experience, commitment and knowledge provides tremendous value to the whole organisation. 

"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."