Fernando Alonso says the arrival of Honda as a works associate as a part of Aston Martin’s ongoing venture was key in him signing his longest-ever contract on the age of 42.
Aston Martin introduced Alonso can be staying with the staff into 2026 – when Honda joins as energy unit provider – on a multi-year deal that can see him racing till he’s a minimum of 45. The Spaniard says the safety of being a part of the identical staff into the brand new energy unit rules was essential, but in addition sees himself contributing to the venture past his racing days.
“It was an necessary level, I can’t lie,” Alonso mentioned. “To decide to a one-year venture it didn’t make sense for me. It’s not that I had one-year proposals elsewhere or something like that, I used to be simply very clear to Aston within the first dialog that the interesting a part of this venture is every thing that we’re constructing; the brand new campus final 12 months, the wind tunnel this 12 months, it may very well be the brand new rules in 2026 and Honda coming in as a associate.
“For me that was a should, I feel, to actually enter new rules with a brand new venture, with a brand new wind tunnel and likewise with Honda as a associate. It was one thing for me that was very, crucial.
“A part of the choice to remain at Aston is as a result of they’re with Honda for 2026, with Aramco the most important and finest associate on the planet. Now we have unbelievable gifted individuals on the technical facet now that can profit from the brand new wind tunnel and the brand new amenities at Silverstone. There have been a whole lot of elements that made 2026 very interesting with Aston.
“That was a theme however its not solely 2026, it’s a lifetime venture for me in a method – that is the longest contract I’ve ever signed in my profession. That is one thing that can hold me linked with Aston for a lot of, a few years to return – let’s see which position; what number of extra years I’ll drive.
“Even after driving I’ll use 25+ years expertise in F1 plus 10 or 15 exterior F1 – so practically 40 years of motorsport expertise – to the good thing about a staff that gave me this chance now on this second of my profession. So that is additionally very interesting for me and I’m extraordinarily motivated for the subsequent years to return.”
Alonso – who admits he held preliminary talks with different groups however by no means severely entertained a transfer elsewhere – says he will certainly drive for the subsequent two seasons as a part of his new contract, however is assured he and Aston Martin can collaboratively determine when he reaches the stage that he ought to cease racing.
“I’ll drive for certain, let’s say… I feel it’s tough to actually touch upon it as a result of I can not predict when I’ll cease racing, or when I’ll develop uninterested in racing. For certain, it’s not going to occur in ’25 or ’26 as a result of, as I mentioned, I affirm that one of many motivations was to enter the brand new rules and to work with Honda.
“However I don’t know [the end point], let’s put it like that. A minimum of two extra years. However then I can’t go into the specifics of what number of years but it surely’s a whole lot of years to return with Aston and to make some progress in different areas. And once I’m racing, I’ll do my finest to win with this staff and to be aggressive, however I’ll really feel the identical if we are able to obtain some nice issues and success even once I’m not driving, and I can help the staff to attain nice issues, even in a unique position.”