Fernando Alonso has given fans a clear answer on what will tell him it's finally time to retire from Formula 1—and it's not about team performance or race results. As questions about the 44-year-old Spaniard's future continue to swirl, the two-time world champion has revealed that the only signals he'll listen to are the stopwatch and his own body.

Alonso's career is nothing short of legendary. Over more than two decades, he has driven for some of F1's biggest names—Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, Alpine, and now Aston Martin. With his 45th birthday approaching this July and Aston Martin struggling to find pace this season, speculation about his retirement has only grown louder.

But Alonso isn't ready to walk away just yet. In a recent interview featured in Rachel Brookes's new book, 'F1 Racing Drive', the veteran driver explained his mindset. "The fact that Fernando Alonso is still in the sport in his mid-40s says a great deal," Brookes wrote. "But he says car performance will not dictate his retirement date."

Alonso himself added: "Others get frustrated when they finish fifth a few times, but I've been eliminated in Q1, and I once blew up 13 engines in one season. In this sport, you have to be mentally strong. I think at the end of the day, the stopwatch will tell me when I have to stop, or I will have a medical condition that is bad or gives me pain; that could happen as well."

He also acknowledged the challenge of knowing when to truly let go. "I know that one day I will have to stop. I did stop Formula 1 already back in 2018 and came back because I needed it. So, the next one has to be 100% for sure."

Meanwhile, Aston Martin's AMR26 has struggled to find its footing this season, falling well short of early expectations. Though the worst of the vibration issues appear to be behind them, Alonso recently shared that he is "at peace" with the team's approach, urging patience before pushing for immediate changes. "So, even if we bring two tenths every race, it doesn't change our position," he noted, emphasizing the long game over short-term fixes.

For now, the stopwatch hasn't spoken, and Alonso's passion for racing remains as fierce as ever. F1 fans can rest easy—the legend isn't hanging up his helmet just yet.