Alonso reveals when he might retire from Formula One
Ahead of the 2025 F1 season, two-time F1 world champion Fernando Alonso has revealed what will signal for him that the time has arrived to retire from Formula One.
The Spaniard made his debut at the pinnacle of motorsport with Minardi in 2001 which was followed by a year that he spent with Renault as a test driver.
The Oviedo-born driver returned to the sport as a full-time race driver in 2003, clinching his first F1 victory in that season. With Renault coming up with an innovative car for the 2005 F1 season, Alonso secured his first F1 title, beating McLaren's Kimi Räikkönen. The next season saw the Spaniard receive fierce competition from Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, but he was able to add a second F1 title to his achievements.
Although he joined McLaren in the following season, he returned to Renault for the 2008 and 2009 F1 season before heading to Ferrari. Despite securing several sensational victories with the fabled Maranello-based outfit and getting close to further F1 titles in 2010 and 2012, he elected to part ways with the team to join forces with McLaren again in 2015.
Following a difficult period at the Woking-based outfit that saw McLaren struggle with its new engine partner, Honda, Alonso decided to leave Formula One at the end of the 2018 season before returning to the pinnacle of motorsport with Alpine for the 2021 season. The two-time F1 world champion left the Enstone-based team after just a single season to join Aston Martin.
Speaking on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Alonso reflected on his future in F1 and what might signal the time to retire.
“I think my self-confidence will always be there until there is one day that I don’t feel comfortable in the car; I feel slower than my team mates, or slower than what I think is possible with the car.”
“If that date arrives, probably I will raise my hand and I will stop racing because I will not enjoy anymore.”
Following a very encouraging start to last season, Aston Martin endured a tough year in 2025, having struggled to match the pace of the four leading teams, and even slipping behind the midfield rivals through the middle part.
Reflecting on the season, the Oviedo-born racer added. “There were a couple of races that I was not maybe comfortable with the car, or I was not super motivated. When you are not super motivated or you are not fighting for anything in the championship, you are a little bit down on energy.”
The Spaniard continued: "It was a disconnection of the car. Front and rear axle were not really working at the same time in the same phase of the corner.
“When you go through the lap and through different corners, and both axles are doing different things, and they are not talking to each other, the car is really difficult to drive.”
