Alonso Isn’t Retiring: Aston Martin Keeps Alonso and Stroll for 2027
Fernando Alonso will race on into 2027, when he turns 46, after Aston Martin confirmed long-term deals for both its drivers. Why the two-time champion is staying despite a difficult 2026, what it means for Stroll and Jak Crawford, and how many F1 seats are left.
Alonso Isn’t Retiring: Staying for 2027
Aston Martin keeps Alonso and Stroll on long-term deals.
The question has followed Fernando Alonso all season: is 2026 his last year in Formula 1? On 29 September he answered it. Aston Martin confirmed that Alonso and Lance Stroll have both extended their contracts for the long term, keeping the same line-up for 2027, their fifth season together as team-mates.
Alonso will turn 46 during the 2027 season. He already holds the record for the most Grands Prix started, and with Stroll the pair have 644 starts between them, which Aston Martin calls the most experienced line-up on the grid. The decision comes despite a difficult year for the team, which sits tenth in the constructors’ championship. Here’s why he’s staying, what it means for the team, and how it shapes the 2027 grid. For every confirmed driver, see our F1 drivers and teams guide.
The News: An Unchanged Line-Up for 2027
Alonso’s previous contract, signed in 2024, ran to the end of 2026, which is why his future was a talking point all year. Aston Martin has now extended both drivers “for the long term”. The team hasn’t given exact end dates, but the wording suggests the deals run beyond 2027.
Executive chairman Lawrence Stroll said: “Lance and Fernando have been a crucial part of our journey and we are very pleased to confirm that they will continue with us.” He added: “Having two drivers with their level of experience, commitment and knowledge provides tremendous value to the whole organisation.”
| Driver | Car | Status for 2027 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fernando Alonso STAYS | No. 14 | Long-term extension | Two-time world champion (2005, 2006); record for most F1 starts |
| Lance Stroll STAYS | No. 18 | Long-term extension | With the team since its Racing Point days |
Why Alonso Is Staying
On paper, 2026 hasn’t given Alonso many reasons to continue. The team’s new era with Honda power and new regulations has been tough, and results have been thin. But Alonso was clear that age and results aren’t what drive him. “Racing is my life, my passion, and I know I still have the speed and determination to compete at the highest level,” he said.
He also made clear that he believes in the project: “I’m very happy to sign a new contract with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team. I truly believe in what we are building: we have strong leadership, incredible people, partners and facilities.”
“Racing is my life, my passion, and I know I still have the speed and determination to compete at the highest level.”
Alonso’s career already spans several eras of F1. He won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, has 32 Grand Prix wins, and has raced for Minardi, Renault, McLaren, Ferrari, Alpine and Aston Martin. His last win came at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix. Staying on gives him the chance to see whether Aston Martin’s investment, including its own factory and wind tunnel, can deliver the competitive car he has been waiting for. Our ranking of the best F1 drivers of all time puts his career in context.
Lance Stroll: Staying With the Team His Father Owns
Stroll’s extension was always more likely than Alonso’s. He is the son of team owner Lawrence Stroll and has been with the outfit since its Racing Point days. But the long-term commitment is still significant, given the regular speculation about his future in the sport.
Stroll was upbeat about the team’s direction: “I believe we have the resources and the people to become a winning team.” The 2027 season will be the pair’s fifth together, making them one of the longest-running driver partnerships on the current grid.
The unchanged line-up ends reserve driver Jak Crawford’s hopes of a 2027 promotion at Aston Martin. The American will have to look elsewhere, or wait, for a race seat.
Aston Martin’s Difficult 2026
The timing is notable. Aston Martin is tenth in the 2026 constructors’ championship, and its season has been described as poor. In Baku, both cars started from the back after the team fitted extra power unit components beyond the season allowance, a sign of how hard the first year of the new Honda partnership has been.
Keeping both drivers sends a message of stability. Rather than resetting the line-up after a tough season, the team is betting that experience will help it develop the car and turn its investment into results. For a team still building towards competitiveness, a driver with Alonso’s feedback and race craft is hard to replace. Our guide to the F1 2027 regulation changes covers what teams are working towards next year.
What It Means for the 2027 Grid
With Aston Martin settled, F1.com counts four seats still open for 2027. The most watched is at Haas, where Esteban Ocon’s future is uncertain and team boss Ayao Komatsu has said a decision is coming within weeks. Reports suggest Haas will keep Oliver Bearman, with Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Câmara a leading candidate for the other car. Racing Bulls is expected to keep Arvid Lindblad.
For the full picture, our F1 drivers and teams guide is updated as deals are confirmed. For the young drivers fighting for those seats, see our coverage of the F2 title fight between Tsolov and Câmara.
Alonso, meanwhile, is back in action this weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which is being held at Sepang in Malaysia. He has won there three times, in 2005, 2007 and 2012. Our F1 standings page has the latest points.
Alonso and Aston Martin 2027 — FAQ
The race goes on
At an age when most of his rivals from the 2000s have long retired, Fernando Alonso is signing another long-term deal. Aston Martin’s 2026 has been tough, but the team is betting on experience and stability, and Alonso is betting that the competitive car he’s waited for is still coming.
Follow World of Speed for every confirmed move as the 2027 grid fills up.
