Alonso rules out retirement announcement ahead of Spanish Grand Prix

No announcement planned in Madrid

Fernando Alonso has ruled out making an announcement about his Formula 1 future this week, removing one of the major off-track storylines ahead of his home Spanish Grand Prix.

Asked after the Italian Grand Prix whether he had any announcement planned, Alonso gave a brief response to media: “No.”

The two-time F1 champion is considering whether to continue racing into a record-breaking 24th season in 2027 or end his career after a difficult campaign with Aston Martin. However, his answer confirms that the Madrid weekend will not bring an immediate decision, despite the significance of his 23rd Spanish Grand Prix appearance.

The race will take place at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. The venue’s arrival adds another layer of interest to Alonso’s home event, although the focus remains firmly on whether Aston Martin can produce a more competitive weekend than it managed at Monza. A track map of the 2026 Spanish GP’s Madring circuit has already highlighted the layout’s key features.

A difficult season for Aston Martin

Alonso has scored only three points after 13 races, his lowest total at that stage of a season since he failed to score in his 2001 debut campaign with Minardi. His Italian Grand Prix ended prematurely when car damage followed a strike at the second Lesmo corner.

The weekend had already exposed Aston Martin’s limitations. Both Alonso and Lance Stroll were last on pure pace in qualifying, while Alonso started the race from the pit lane as the AMR26 cars continued to struggle for speed.

Power deficit evident at Monza

Alonso was particularly struck by the gap between Monza’s reputation and the speeds produced during the weekend. Referring to the circuit’s traditional “Temple of Speed” label, he noted that the cars had reached higher speeds in Barcelona and Budapest, while Monza’s figure was around 312kph.

“So it’s not anymore the ‘Temple of Speed,’” Alonso said.

Madrid offers a potential opportunity

Despite the disappointment, Alonso sees the next race as a possible opening for Aston Martin. He acknowledged that some of the remaining weekends would be difficult, while others could suit the team better.

“Looking forward, I think from the remaining races, we know that there are weekends that we will struggle and weekends that will be better,” he said. “Maybe the next one is one of the opportunities.”

For now, the retirement question remains unresolved. Alonso’s only clear message is that Madrid will not be the stage for an announcement.