Alonso: Aston Martin upgrade will not decide his 2027 F1 future

Fernando Alonso has insisted that Aston Martin’s major upgrade package will have no bearing on his decision over whether to continue racing in Formula 1 in 2027.

The team has endured a difficult campaign, remaining towards the rear of the field while rivals introduced performance updates more regularly. Aston Martin has instead chosen to bring a substantial package in one step, with the upgrade set to make its debut at this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

That timing has placed additional focus on the team’s progress. Alonso is expected to make a decision about his future during the upcoming summer break, but he has made clear that the result of Aston Martin’s latest development effort will not be the deciding factor.

Alonso separates 2026 form from future potential

Asked how important the upgrade’s performance would be to his decision, Alonso told media: “Nothing. Nothing because my decision is not about the performance of this year. This year we started on the wrong foot.”

He argued that the team’s current results do not represent its actual capability and therefore cannot provide a reliable basis for judging the future.

“I cannot base my decision for next year on a performance that is not realistic,” Alonso said. “This is not the true potential of the team. It’s much higher than what we see.”

The comments underline that Alonso is viewing the current season in isolation. Aston Martin’s Hungarian Grand Prix package may offer an important indication of its immediate direction, but Alonso does not see it as a definitive verdict on the organisation’s longer-term prospects.

Rules, not upgrades, are central to Alonso’s decision

Instead, Alonso’s evaluation is focused on the future regulations and whether the next generation of cars will provide the driving experience he wants. The FIA has confirmed a change for next year, moving away from an even 50/50 split between the combustion engine and battery, with greater output coming from the combustion-engine element.

Alonso’s concerns are tied to how enjoyable the cars are to drive at demanding circuits. Reflecting on recent races, he said: “My decision for next year is more about the rules. Driving these cars in places like Spa or Silverstone last race is not what I’m dreaming of for my future. So we’ll see.”

His position is consistent with the distinction he has drawn between Aston Martin’s current performance and the broader question of whether Formula 1’s future technical direction remains appealing. For now, the Hungarian upgrade is a team-performance story—not the deciding chapter in Alonso’s career decision. The latest context surrounding Alonso’s season is also covered in this report on his Belgian Grand Prix grid penalty.