It took just five minutes. That is all the time Fernando Alonso needed with Lawrence Stroll to lock in another year of racing, setting up what will be his 24th season at the pinnacle of motorsport in 2027. While the announcement finally dropped ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, as Motorsport.com reports, the paddock had largely expected it all along—explaining why Mike Krack always looked entirely relaxed despite the lengthy wait for pen to paper.
The timeline of how it all came together was surprisingly straightforward, according to the Spaniard during media day at Sepang. Both parties wanted the continuation, meaning the chat was brief before the official word went out. Yet the timing itself raised eyebrows. Back in Madrid, Alonso had pointed to the incoming 2027 regulation changes as the major factor for his future, where the balance between the internal combustion engine and electrical power shifts in two steps to a 60-40 ratio, with the split for 2027 sitting at 58-42.
With those rules completely unchanged since Madrid, the true catalyst for signing on is something much more visceral. Alonso simply cannot let go of the fire burning inside him. As he put it when asked about his motivation, watching from home brings a specific urge. If he sits on the couch watching races on TV, the feeling hits him immediately that he can do better than the drivers on screen. It is the exact same sensation he had during his time away from Formula 1, always feeling that internal drive to be out there trying to do a better job.
The new agreement means the Aston Martin driver will still be competing next year at the age of 46. When asked about his discussions at home regarding another season, the veteran offered a quick joke about his wife. She feels the pain of a tough year and worries about his health when the car isn't competitive, prompting him to quip that she actually prefers him away at the track when things are difficult.
Even with the contract signed, the two-time world champion is still pushing hard for tweaks to the technical regulations. Having previously put forward a concrete proposal in Baku to limit the battery's maximum power for longer periods so speed profiles feel more natural, he admits he still holds out hope for adjustments. He pointed to the venue at Sepang as a prime example of the current limitations, noting that the middle sector suffers because drivers cannot use the battery there without draining it before the consecutive straights from Turn 15 to Turn 3.
Beyond his technical gripes and the desire to see the rules refined, Alonso wants to give the ambitious project at Aston Martin another proper chance. Pointing out that things started on the wrong foot on the power unit side and leaving the outlook for next year as a question mark, the driver from Oviedo feels the team deserves another opportunity while he still feels fast.
