FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan - September 21, 2025 Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso before the race REUTERS/Anton Vaganov/File Photo
LONDON (Reuters) -Formula One's oldest driver Fernando Alonso says he is more likely to retire next year if his Aston Martin team have a competitive season.
The double world champion will be 45 next July and out of contract at the end of a season that sees a major technical change, with a new engine era and Honda joining as Aston Martin's partner.
"If things go well, I think it's a very good moment to stop," the Spaniard said in an interview published on the team's website.
"I've been chasing a competitive car and a competitive racing for many, many years, and if I have that I think it's a very good way to close my career.
"Let's say that if we are competitive, there is more chance that I stop. If we are not competitive, it will be very hard to give up without trying again."
Alonso has not won a race since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, when he was at Ferrari, and took his championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006.
He joined Aston Martin, who now have multiple-title-winning designer and technical ace Adrian Newey working for them, in 2023 from Renault-owned Alpine after a previous stint with McLaren.
The Spaniard is also a double winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours with Toyota and has competed in the Indianapolis 500 and Dakar Rally.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis)
