Fernando Alonso committed to staying in Formula 1 with Aston Martin for at least one more year, citing his continued belief in his own speed as the primary reason. The 45-year-old Spaniard told BBC Sport that he still feels as fast as anybody on the grid and maintains self-confidence that he has something extra to offer.
Alonso explained that when he considers stepping down from driving, he cannot justify the decision because he still believes he is faster than many competitors. He described watching other drivers brake late and make mistakes while feeling satisfied with his own performance, even when finishing in 18th position due to an uncompetitive car.
The decision came despite Alonso's strong criticism of the 2026 hybrid engines and Formula 1's current regulations. He has called F1 the "battery world championship" and described fast corners as "charging stations" where cars lose power. However, his love for the sport and the presence of Adrian Newey at Aston Martin influenced his commitment to continue.
Alonso acknowledged that Honda's engine performance has been difficult to endure, drawing parallels to his challenging McLaren-Honda period from 2015-17. However, he expressed faith in the changes being made at Honda and believes the team is moving in the right direction, though he admitted there are no guarantees the engine will be completely fixed next season.