SILVERSTONE, England — Fernando Alonso said Aston Martin’s long-awaited Formula 1 upgrade package will not determine whether he continues racing beyond the 2026 season, although he expects the changes to provide a crucial indication of the team’s long-term direction.
Alonso’s contract expires at the end of the season, leaving his future uncertain as Aston Martin struggles through a disappointing campaign under Formula 1’s new regulations. The British team has scored only one point through the opening eight rounds and has often trailed the midfield by as much as a second per lap.
Rather than introducing incremental improvements, Aston Martin has delayed development in favor of a comprehensive upgrade package scheduled for the Hungarian Grand Prix, with the aim of addressing the overweight AMR26 and its broader performance shortcomings.
Earlier this week, chief technical officer Adrian Newey expressed hope that the upgrade would persuade Alonso to remain with the team beyond 2026.
“Fernando is really looking forward to the upgrade and, if it performs, we hope he’ll be in the cockpit for another season,” Newey said. “Given his experience, his feel for the car, his ability to guide development, he’s a tremendous asset. But he wants to see clear, tangible progress.”
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix, Alonso dismissed suggestions that his contract decision would depend solely on the performance of the revised car.
“I cannot say that it’s really connected,” Alonso said. “Because if the car is good or bad, there are other factors that I need to think about.”
The 44-year-old Spaniard confirmed he intends to decide his future during Formula 1’s summer break, which follows the Hungarian Grand Prix.
While insisting the upgrade would not dictate his personal plans, Alonso emphasized its importance for Aston Martin’s preparations for the 2027 season, when teams will increasingly shift development toward next year’s car.
“It is important to see the direction that we took and all the time that we took since Bahrain,” Alonso said. “The team made the decision to wait for a proper package to be introduced whenever it was. We didn’t know if it was race seven or race 12 or at the end of the year.”
“But we knew that this is our starting place and position. This is not good enough. We are lacking downforce, power, gearbox, experience, all these kind of things.”
Alonso said the revised aerodynamic package should demonstrate whether Aston Martin has correctly identified the weaknesses that have limited its competitiveness throughout the season.
“For me it’s important to feel in Hungary that we are understanding what are the weaknesses of the car and we are tackling them,” he said. “Especially on the aero package, that is the first one that is coming. We are struggling with very specific things this year behind the wheel.”
“If those are improved in Hungary and we can drive the car to maximum, then I think there is a very clear path and a good momentum that we can take for next year. So that’s for me the most important thing.”
