Fernando Alonso has confirmed he will make a decision on his Formula 1 future around the summer break, as speculation about the veteran driver's retirement continues to build.
At 44 years old, Alonso is in his 23rd season in the championship, having made his debut back in 2001. Over that remarkable career, he has secured two world titles and 32 Grand Prix victories, cementing his legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats.
However, the current season has been a challenging one for the Aston Martin driver. His contract expires at the end of the 2026 campaign, and the team has endured a difficult start to the new regulations—sitting last in the standings without a single point across the opening three rounds.
Despite the struggles, Alonso remains pragmatic about the situation, acknowledging the limitations of his machinery. Given his well-documented reservations about the increasingly electrical-focused ruleset, many have wondered if this could be the right moment to step away. But for now, that call is on hold.
"I didn't start yet to think about the future," Alonso said ahead of this weekend's Miami Grand Prix. "I have conversations with Lawrence [Stroll, team owner] and the team regularly. We met in Monaco last weekend as well and we had a nice dinner together. But we never discussed deeply the future. We are aligned on everything. We are a team but we are talking more about the present, to be honest, than the future."
He added: "But I know that at one point this year, around summer time or right after summer, I need to make a decision. At the moment I didn't start with myself yet to think about it."
If Alonso does decide to leave, it would mark his second "retirement" from F1. He previously stepped away at the end of 2018 after his stint with McLaren, exploring other racing series before returning with Alpine in 2021.
A key factor in his eventual decision will be how he stacks up against the competition. The Spaniard is determined not to stay on the grid if he is no longer competitive. "Leaving the sport with a bad taste is not always the best thing," he said. "These things you cannot choose when to stop racing—only [Nico] Rosberg did. Otherwise, it's difficult to choose. I'm very relaxed and I'm very happy with my career. I'm very happy with what I was able to live and to experience."
Alonso currently holds the record for the most Grand Prix starts with 428—a testament to his enduring passion and longevity in the sport. Whether he adds to that tally beyond 2026 remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: when the time comes, he wants to leave on his own terms.