Aston Martin wants Alonso to stay as Alpine rumors swirl

Aston Martin has publicly affirmed its desire to keep Fernando Alonso for the long term, even as paddock speculation intensifies that the two-time world champion could reunite with his former boss Flavio Briatore at Alpine. With the Silverstone squad having scored just a solitary point across the opening seven rounds of the 2026 season, Alonso has acknowledged he will evaluate his options and make a final call around the summer break.

Why it matters:

Losing Alonso would be a seismic blow to Aston Martin's credibility at a time when on-track results have dried up entirely. Equally, his potential return to Alpine would instantly reshape the 2026 driver market, giving the Enstone squad a proven race winner and marquee name just as Briatore attempts to steer the rebranded Renault works team back toward the front.

The details:

• The Alpine rumor: Multiple paddock sources have tied Alonso to a move back to his former championship-winning employer, now operating as Alpine under Briatore. A reunion is understood to be a "key consideration."
• Aston Martin's message: Team principal Mike Krack left no ambiguity, stating Alonso is "here to stay" and praising the drivers' professionalism amid the team's struggles. He made clear he has "great hopes" the line-up remains intact.
• Alonso's timeline: Speaking to Sky Sports last month, Alonso said he will decide "sometime in the summer" after speaking with family, while stressing his ties to the Aston project and his desire to succeed there "behind the wheel or not behind the wheel."
• On-track reality: Alonso has scored Aston Martin's only point this season, dragging the Honda-powered AMR26 to tenth in Monaco. The statistic underscores how far the team has fallen since its 2023 podium streaks.
• Honda's view: Shintaro Orihara bluntly stated, "Fernando should not retire, he's too quick," reinforcing the belief that Alonso remains competitive despite the machinery.

What's next:

The clock is ticking toward the summer break, when Alonso has promised to finalize his plans. While the emotional pull of a Briatore-orchestrated Alpine comeback is undeniable, Aston Martin is banking on the Spaniard's loyalty and the unfinished business of its long-term project to keep him in green rather than returning to the French outfit.