- Written by Andrew Benson
- BBC F1 correspondent
Fernando Alonso has signed a contract to remain in F1 with Aston Martin for at least the next two seasons.
Aston Martin announced that the 42-year-old Alonso, whose contract expires at the end of this season, has signed a new contract that will extend until at least the end of 2026.
Team principal Mike Clack said the two-time world champion is “hungry for success, drives better than ever and is fitter than ever.”
“He is completely committed to making Aston Martin competitive.”
Clack described the Spaniard's new contract, which turns 43 in July, as a “multi-year deal” until 2026, and the start of new engine deals with Aston Martin and Honda.
This means Alonso will drive in F1 until he is 45 years old and possibly beyond.
Clack said: “It's great news that we have secured Fernando's long-term future with Aston Martin. We have built a strong working relationship over the past 18 months and we share the same determination to make this project a success. “I'm doing it,” he said.
“We have been in continuous dialogue over the past few months and Fernando has been true to his word. When he decided he wanted to continue racing, he was the first to tell us. Fernando has shown that he believes in us and we believe in him.”
The decision means Alonso will be out of the running for a seat at Red Bull or Mercedes next season.
Alonso joined Aston Martin at the start of the 2023 season and the duo were one of last year's star attractions.
Aston Martin has made a remarkable comeback, with Alonso not only returning to the podium for the first time since 2013, but also scoring points in six of the first eight races.
He showed a series of impressive drives before the team lost its competitiveness and was widely regarded as one of the season's standout performers.
Had his team made the right tire choice in the rain late in the race, he would have beaten world champion Max Verstappen's Red Bull to victory in Monaco.
This season's driver market has been affected by the turmoil at Red Bull due to Lewis Hamilton's move from Mercedes to Ferrari for 2025 and the controversy over team principal Christian Horner's alleged behavior towards female employees. is fluid.
Both teams had shown interest in Alonso, so his choice to remain with Aston Martin is a huge vote of confidence for the team aiming to be at the front of the grid.
Honda's role at Aston could also be an issue for Alonso, who angered the Japanese manufacturer with public complaints about Aston's engines when they worked together at McLaren from 2015 to 2017. The claim is also overturned.
