Fernando Alonso drops major F1 retirement hint ahead of the Barcelona Grand Prix

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Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso has hinted that his retirement from Formula 1 is now around the corner, as he expects this weekend to be his last F1 race in Barcelona.

Sunday’s race will mark the 23rd time that Alonso has competed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since recording his Formula 1 debut in 2001 for Minardi. Alonso has also won the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona twice so far, including what remains his most recent victory.

Alonso won the 2006 Spanish GP in Barcelona for Renault en route to a second F1 title. The 44-year-old even won in Montmelo during the 2013 F1 season with Ferrari for what remains his 32nd and most recent Grand Prix win, despite coming in the 201st of his 431 starts so far.

A third career win in Montmelo is unlikely to come this weekend, in what is now named the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, having only just recorded his first point in the Aston Martin AMR26 with P10 in Monaco. F1 has now given Madrid the naming rights for the Spanish GP.

Kimi Antonelli is going for his sixth straight win at the Barcelona GP. Who’s your pick for the top step of the podium?

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Fernando Alonso admits that he will ‘probably’ retire from F1 in 2027, if not in 2026

Alonso does not expect to race in F1 in Montmelo again after the 2026 Barcelona-Catalunya GP, either, as the circuit will no longer have a permanent presence on the calendar after this year. Barcelona will become a rotational event with the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa from 2027.

READ MORE: The best moments of Fernando Alonso’s career in Formula 1

So, with his contract at Aston Martin currently set to expire at the end of the 2026 F1 season and with his 45th birthday coming on July 29, Alonso feels he is unlikely to race in Barcelona again. But Alonso will wait until F1’s summer break to decide whether he will return in 2027.

Alonso said in the pre-event Thursday press conference: “It’s going to be a special weekend. This is probably my last Barcelona race in Formula 1, so I want to say thanks to everyone.

“I will try to enjoy the weekend. I will not be competitive and I will not be too long in the car in qualifying – in the race, hopefully yes, but not at the pace that we all want.

“I want everyone to still enjoy the weekend. It has always been a celebration when we come to Barcelona. I think this is my 23rd Grand Prix [in Barcelona], and all of them have been magical. This last has to be magical, as well.”

Alonso has made no secret of his preference not to retire from Formula 1 on a low, and that he might sign a new contract with Aston Martin if their car for 2027 shows more promise in their simulator than their 2026 package. Alonso is currently just 18th in the 2026 standings.

It also emerged back in March that Alonso is likely to sign a new contract with Aston Martin for 2027, having seen how badly they started the 2026 regulations era. Now six rounds into the season, only new boys Cadillac (zero) have secured fewer points than Aston Martin (1).