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Fernando Alonso's signal of possibly retiring from the sport following the 2026 F1 season has put Aston Martin under too much pressure. He has been collecting most points for the team since joining in 2023, and continues to assist the team's development through his immense experience in the sport.
Although at 44 years old, the Spanish racer has once again fueled speculations about his retirement. Interacting with the media earlier, he said that he would consider retiring from the sport if Aston Martin managed to make a strong car in the 2026 season, under the first year of the new regulations.
With the latter part being a strong possibility, the team is expected to be under pressure about driver signing. Although they have had Lance Stroll driving for them for a long time, he has not been a strong competitor on the grid.
The experience and calm that Alonso brings to the side are essential, especially considering the new regulations next year. They are set to be best for drivers who are well at adapting to different cars, and the Spanish racer excels at that.
With the pressure building for the side, there have been a few names who could join the team in the future.
Yuki Tsunoda tipped as possible Fernando Alonso replacement
Earlier this season, Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull Racing earlier this season and has been competing for the Milton Keynes team since. However, his performances have been underwhelming, and he has failed to create any impact on the track.
As the season progressed, Jamie Chadwick was asked about RBR's possible lineup in the 2026 season. It was suggested that Isack Hadjar could move up to the side from Racing Bulls, which would then leave Yuki Tsunoda without a seat.
However, he might find himself as Fernando Alonso's replacement at Aston Martin. Speaking on the Sky F1 Podcast, Ted Kravitz noted that Tsunoda has been labeled as a "Honda" racer in the past.
"That’s the thing. Is Yuki Red Bull’s guy or is he Honda’s guy?" Kravitz said. "That’s the question. Christian Horner and Helmut Marko always kind of felt that Yuki was linked to Honda, where Yuki was like ‘no, no, no I’m a Red Bull guy’. And it’s whether Laurent Mekies, Helmut Marko and Alan Permane think there is a future in Yuki."
Kravitz suggested that Tsunoda could instead find himself at Aston Martin, as Fernando Alonso's replacement, if he retires from the sport.
"Or whether Yuki can get himself a third driver at Aston Martin Honda next year, maybe a third driver role? Maybe that’s the way he wants to go, does he want to stay within the Honda fold and not necessarily within the Red Bull family?"
Aston Martin currently uses the Mercedes power unit, however, they will switch to Honda in the 2026 season under the new regulations. This could be Fernando Alonso's final season, as he suggested earlier, if the team manages to deliver a competitive car.
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