Fernando Alonso’s future in Formula 1 remains undecided, but FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is already making it clear that he does not want the two-time world champion to walk away.
Speaking at the New Economy Forum in Madrid on Friday, Ben Sulayem said Alonso should not be forced out of Formula 1 because of Aston Martin’s current struggles. He also revealed that he had spoken with team owner Lawrence Stroll and planned to speak with Alonso himself.
“There is no way we can allow Fernando, a great champion, to leave … because of the circumstances,” Ben Sulayem said. He added that Alonso should be able to leave the sport on his own terms rather than being pushed toward retirement by a lack of performance.
The comments come at a time when Alonso’s 2027 plans are still one of the biggest unanswered questions on the F1 grid.
Alonso is not ready to make a decision
Alonso’s current Aston Martin contract expires at the end of the 2026 season, and the 45-year-old has repeatedly left the door open to both continuing in F1 and stepping away from a race seat.
That uncertainty remained intact ahead of this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. Alonso said there was “no urgency” to decide his future and explained that he wanted to understand how the 2027 regulations would affect the racing and the experience of driving the cars.
That distinction is important.
Aston Martin’s performance is obviously part of the wider picture, but Alonso has repeatedly said it is not the deciding factor. He has already made clear that he is willing to continue working for the team even if he is no longer behind the wheel.
“If I race or not, my commitment with the team and with the project is the same,” Alonso said earlier this year, while also making clear that he still wants to help Aston Martin eventually fight for championships.
Aston Martin’s struggles have complicated the decision
The timing of the uncertainty is hardly surprising.
Aston Martin entered the 2026 season with major expectations surrounding its new works partnership with Honda and Adrian Newey’s influence on the car. Instead, the team struggled badly under the new regulations.
Alonso has managed only three points after 13 races, according to AP, although Aston Martin has shown some signs of improvement following upgrades introduced during the season.
Newey has previously stressed how important Alonso is to the project, describing his feedback and ability as hugely valuable to the team. In July, Newey said he was confident Alonso was enjoying his time with Aston Martin and that the relationship would continue.
But Alonso’s concerns go beyond the AMR26.
He has been openly critical of aspects of the 2026 regulations and has questioned whether the current generation of cars provides the driving experience he wants from Formula 1. He believes the changes planned for 2027 could move the sport in a better direction, although he has also suggested that further tweaks may eventually be needed.
Ben Sulayem wants Alonso to have another chance
That puts Ben Sulayem’s intervention into a broader context.
The FIA president is not simply trying to convince Alonso to sign another contract with Aston Martin. His concern appears to be that one of F1’s most experienced and recognisable drivers could leave the championship because he has spent a difficult season fighting near the back of the field.
Ben Sulayem said he had already met Stroll to discuss the situation and planned to speak directly with Alonso. He also indicated that the FIA had made changes earlier in the year within the regulations intended to help improve the team’s performance.
Whether that changes Alonso’s mind is another matter.
For now, the driver is taking his time. He has options beyond a conventional F1 race seat, including the possibility of competing for Aston Martin in the World Endurance Championship or taking another role within the organisation.
That leaves Alonso with something unusual for a driver approaching the end of a career: the decision is largely his to make.
Ben Sulayem may want him to stay. Aston Martin still values him. But Alonso has made clear that he wants to see where Formula 1 is heading before deciding whether he wants to keep driving in it.
And with the 2027 regulations playing such a large part in that decision, the answer may not come until Alonso is convinced that the next version of Formula 1 is one he actually wants to race in.