The team's priority is to solve the AMR26's problems. The Spanish driver, without a contract for 2027, will decide later, De la Rosa says: "I hope he stays, but we haven't talked about anything. We are focused on the car."
Pedro de la Rosa, Aston Martin ambassador and close friend of Fernando Alonso, was clear about the contractual situation of the Asturian driver: "For us, I hope he stays, as a team, we have to give him a better car. I hope Fernando is around for a long time. It's a luxury to have him race after race, we have to enjoy him while we can" he assured.
On the other hand, the former Catalan driver also recognized that the renewal is not on the team's current agenda: "It's a topic we honestly haven't talked about, not within the team, not with Fernando, not as a friend, not as a professional" he stated. The reason is obvious: the AMR26, powered by Honda, is disappointing beyond imagination and Aston Martin has many issues to resolve before thinking about 2027.
"We are focused on the car, on the engine and on improving, whatever he wants to do, whatever it is, because a driver like Fernando has to be waited for and we have to give him enough time to make a decision. Now is perhaps a bad time to sit down and think about a future situation" De la Rosa added.
The Asturian driver, 44, does not have a valid contract for the 2027 season, on several occasions he has said that the decision about his continuity in Formula 1 will have to wait a few more months, his motivation and Aston Martin's performance will directly influence his response. Another thing to consider is that the new regulations have disappointed him greatly, so what the FIA is able to do from now on to improve it will also carry weight.
This was supposed to be the year in which Aston Martin would look for a reliable replacement for Alonso, helped by a promising and competitive 2026, that would attract drivers like Max Verstappen to Silverstone, which would mean the definitive goodbye for the two-time Spanish champion, however, things have changed drastically. The team has started the season being the worst on the entire grid, even behind Cadillac, the debutant team.
Right now it is unlikely that any top level driver wants to bet on Aston Martin, which paradoxically opens the door for Fernando Alonso to continue at least one more year. The Asturian himself already said months ago that, if the car was not competitive, there would be more options to continue, not because he likes to suffer, but because the alternatives for the team are limited.
If we limit ourselves to evaluating Alonso's performance on track, his continuity should be a mere formality, but more elements come into play: disappointment with the regulations, the lack of competitiveness of the car and the needs of a team that must secure a driver pairing worthy of its ambitions.
For now, everything is on hold, the car is so deficient that all efforts are focused on improving the present. Alonso's renewal will have to wait.