Fernando Alonso, at 45 years old, will compete for Aston Martin in the 2026 F1 season. Alonso, who is currently the oldest driver on the grid, has been part of Formula 1 since 2001, with a break between 2018 and 2020. The veteran driver recently signed a two-year contract with Aston Martin, securing his place in the sport beyond 45 years old. This decision was supported by a former F1 driver and ambassador for Aston Martin, who shared his thoughts on the British team’s perspective on Alonso’s age.
The extension of Alonso’s contract ensures that he will be on the grid when the new regulations come into effect in 2026. Aston Martin is not concerned about his age, as they have committed to him even after he turns 45. Alonso himself has expressed that he could continue competing in F1 until he is 50. He believes that Alonso’s dedication is commendable and sees it as a great commitment from the Silverstone-based team to have a driver of his age.
According to de la Rosa, the team’s focus is solely on Alonso’s performance, not his age. The British team acknowledges that Alonso is still performing at his best, considering his age compared to the younger drivers on the grid. Despite his age, Alonso brings a wealth of experience, which is invaluable to Aston Martin.
Aston Martin had a good start to the 2023 season, but struggled with the development of their car as the season progressed, resulting in a disappointing finish. However, Silverstone had a decent start to the 2024 season. Alonso expressed his satisfaction with the team’s challenge last year and this year. He aims to achieve a better position than the previous year.
Alonso revealed that the team has a clear plan for the development of the 2024 car. The development process of the AMR24 has been more aggressive this time, aligning with the top teams on the grid. The partnership between Aston Martin and Honda for power units will also increase the team’s chances of competing for race wins.
Aston Martin is currently in a tight battle with Mercedes for fourth place in the constructors’ championship. To remain competitive, Silverstone needs to constantly update their car and avoid repeating the performance drop they experienced in 2023.
