Fernando Alonso sad as replacement candidate emerges

All signs point to Verstappen staying at Red Bull for another year in 2025, but there are further questions about his status for 2026, when a new era of Formula 1 is set to begin amid a sweeping new set of regulations.

Fernando Alonso recently signed a contract extension to remain with Aston Martin through the end of the 2026 season. But there is growing speculation that, given his age and some of his frustration with the team’s step back in performance as of late, he could decide to retire early, rather than stick with the team through the introduction of the new regulations. He is set to be 45 years old by the time the 2026 season ends.

Alonso, a two-time world champion, replaced four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, Stroll’s first major signing upon Aston Martin’s return to Formula 1, after the 2022 season. Could the team replace Alonso with another multi-time world champion less than two years from now?

The team’s other driver is Lawrence’s son Lance, and he too recently signed a multi-year contract extension to remain with the team through at least the 2026 season. There has also been speculation that he may decide to move into more of a management role within the team, but he basically has a contract with the team until he wants to stop.

This isn’t to say that Alonso is for sure the driver Verstappen would replace. But given the speculation that he is being targeted for 2026, and both Aston Martin drivers are under contract through 2026, everything is clearly on the table.