Alonso Keeps F1 Future Hinged on Rule Changes, Not Aston Martin Form

Overview

• Fernando Alonso, whose Aston Martin contract runs to the end of 2026, has told media he will not stay in Formula 1 just to finish in lower points positions and that regulation changes are the decisive factor in his choice.
• Alonso praised recent chassis updates that improved corner performance but said the Honda power unit still showed drivability problems and lacked a clear power gain at Zandvoort.
• The team’s P9 at Zandvoort provided a morale boost, but Alonso said that single result is insufficient and that Monza will be a truer test of the engine’s straight‑line performance.
• Aston Martin trackside boss Mike Krack said there is enough time to decide the driver lineup for 2027 and expressed confidence a solution will be found.
• The wider issue is the 2026 ruleset, which Alonso and others say increases energy‑management demands and reduces traditional driver influence, and he has signalled that expected 2027 tweaks — including more combustion power — will be central to whether he stays or pursues GT and Le Mans projects after F1.