Fernando Alonso: What's the latest on Aston Martin driver's future as he weighs up retirement or new contract to stay in F1 in 2027?

Alonso has been frustrated with Formula 1's 2026 regulations and the performance of his Aston Martin-Honda car, having scored points just twice this season.

The 45-year-old, whose current contract at Aston Martin expires at the end of this season, suggested how he feels about the power unit tweaks for next year, which will see the electric output reduced from its current near 50 per cent to 42 per cent, will dictate his decision.

"It's a matter of understanding what the rules from next year will have an impact or not on the racing and on the driving side of things," said Alonso last Thursday at the Spanish Grand Prix.

"The current cars, as I said many times, are not the best cars to drive and to enjoy. But next year there is a step in the right direction, hopefully.

"At the same time, I need to think what is the best programme for next year and sit with the team. Behind the wheel or in another role, where I will be helping the most, that will be the most important thing to decide together."

Are FIA set to help Honda to keep Alonso in F1?

A day after Alonso's comments, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem appeared to reveal he wants to accelerate Honda's engine development so they can catch up.

"There is no way we can allow Fernando to leave - Alonso, a great champion - just because of the circumstances. That's not the way to leave the stage," said Ben Sulayem.

"He has to be successful and then he leaves whenever he wants, not because he was forced to leave because of the performance.

"I share the issues. The car is not performing. I met with Lawrence [Stroll] on Thursday and I'm going to do the changes and will talk to him to make him, try to make him, change his mind. It's not acceptable."

The comments could be seen as a personal intervention by Ben Sulayem but Sky Sports F1 understands the FIA president wants to work with the Power Unit Advisory Committee, which features all five engine manufactures, to work together to help Honda.

One option could be changing the ADUO (Additional Development Upgrades Opportunities) rules to not only be about the ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) power.

Honda have already used one of two engine upgrade opportunities this year, have at least another two for 2027 and were given an extra £14m of development budget.

Ben Sulayem added: "I will be speaking to him. I said to him, I saw him very sad, and I said, 'Fernando, I understand, it's not acceptable that you are coming to your own country and now after two times a world champion and you are at the last'.

"We did something earlier, in May, legally for the team towards the engine to go and improve, and then I said to him, 'I am not going to tell you what we are going to do. Please tell me what you want because you are the driver and come and tell me what do you want us to do to improve these results.'

"Suddenly you see everything change, then I get a call and I had a meeting [with Stroll]. We are here to support."

Red Bull were deemed to have the best engine earlier this year by the FIA, although most people in the paddock feel Mercedes are the benchmark engine manufacturer.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies are open to changes in order for Honda can catch up.

"The ADUO in that case was designed as a catch-up mechanism and that formula was unlocked for Honda, and they need more," said Wolff.

"And the conversation that the president had with Alonso is fair enough. We want to have all of these top constructors in the sport. We want them to be competitive and successful.

"And regulations are regulations to be for the best of the sport and sometimes maybe they need an adjustment, so fair enough conversation."

Mekies added: "As much as we cannot agree all the time, as a sport we try to keep a fairly open look at the regulations.

"You may recall that actually there was a first change in the ADUO regulations done earlier this year precisely in order to help those who were much behind, compared to what was initially voted. All the teams voted that, we voted in favour of that for the benefit of the sport.

"As I said, we cannot agree on everything but certainly as stakeholders of the sport if there is a situation that needs to be fixed or needs to be supported, we normally find solutions. And I'm sure that we will at some stage sit down and discuss the future of the ADUO regulations. The shortfalls, we know some of them, and I'm sure there is a few of those to address later on."

So is Alonso going to stay or retire from F1?

It is hard to judge whether Alonso's initial comments were sparked by a push to get rule changes which will aid Aston Martin and Honda, or he's genuinely unhappy with the current F1 cars.

Perhaps it is a combination of both and it should not be forgotten Alonso made his F1 debut in 2001 - an era with roaring normally aspirated V10 engines - a contrast to now.

There will certainly be an element of Aston Martin not being competitive too which is part of Alonso's thinking and that brings us to how long does the Spaniard want to race in F1 for, if he can't compete at the front?

Alonso will be 46 years old next summer and the last driver to race in F1 at that age was Graham Hill in 1975. The Spaniard became a father earlier this year and hinted he still has other motorsport ambitions after admitting a return to the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours is an option.

Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said at the weekend in Madrid: "We were always clear the team wants to continue. We have made it clear all through, but we need to respect what Fernando's thoughts are.

"We need to respect the time he wants to take. And, as I said before, we're confident we can reach a good solution for everybody. And now it's about waiting. He needs to make up his mind and then we move on."

Most of the 2027 F1 grid is locked in after Max Verstappen signed a new Red Bull contract and Williams duo Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon committed to staying for next year.

Only the second Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen, Racing Bulls, Haas and Audi are yet to confirm their line-ups so Aston Martin won't have the option to sign a perceived top driver to replace Alonso, should he retire.

Krack said: "I will also not speak about any Plan B. We very much hope that Fernando will continue. He's very important for our team. He's very important for Formula 1. He's very important for the whole sport and motorsport in general.

"It would be a pity to not have him anymore. And because that would be so dramatic, I do not even want to talk about it or think about it."

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