Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin are said to have Mercedes worried, with them being identified as the team to beat by 2026.

Hywell Thomas, head of the department responsible for the Mercedes engine, said the following on the Beyond The Grid podcast: "We have to take 16 engines to Australia. Honda only has to bring four or five, so they can make decisions much later, keeping the engine on the test bench longer to find more performance and reliability.

“Still, having four times as many engineers looking at the data and giving us feedback is very beneficial,” he said.

Fernando's multi-year contract runs until at least the 2026 season, when Aston Martin will begin working on its power unit with Honda. This new contract will be an opportunity for the Asturian to assess whether he wants to continue in the category, depending on Aston Martin's performance.

Through the team's official channels, Aston has made official the Spanish driver's extended stay with the team owned by Lawrence Stroll. In a statement, the Silverstone-based team announced to the public that Fernando would not be leaving the organization and would remain with the team, demonstrating its faith in the British team's project.

This announcement means that Fernando will remain with Aston Martin for several more years, not just in F1, as the Spaniard will seek to lead the team to success in other categories and races, such as Le Mans. In addition, it is not ruled out that he may take on a managerial or advisory role.