Fernando Alonso reveals what will really decide his F1 future after Adrian Newey claim

Fernando Alonso has revealed exactly what will contribute to his decision on retiring after the 2026 Formula One season.

With the 2026 summer break rapidly approaching, rumours about the 2027 Formula One lineup are already starting to circulate.

Over half of the current 22-man grid have contracts expiring at the end of this year, including some of the sport's biggest names, with many of the others only committed until the end of 2027.

In light of this, it is expected that there will be a number of major moves confirmed in the coming months, with the future of Red Bull's Max Verstappen likely to be the biggest story of the summer.

But it is not just Verstappen that has been strongly linked with a move away from his current team, as F1 veteran Alonso has long been considering retiring at the end of the season.

The 44-year-old admitted in Barcelona this year that it would likely be his last time competing in his home race, seemingly confirming that he might have already made his mind up about retiring.

But, Aston Martin team principal Adrian Newey appeared to suggest that this is far from the case, as he claimed that an upcoming upgrade that the team are expected to bring to the Hungarian Grand Prix could convince Alonso to extend his stay.

Discussing the upgrade, Newey said: "It's very important. Fernando is really looking forward to the upgrade and, if it performs, we hope he'll be in the cockpit for another season.

"Given his experience, his feel for the car, his ability to guide development, he's a tremendous asset. But he wants to see clear, tangible progress. If we can show that we're moving decisively in the right direction, he's absolutely committed to being behind the wheel."

READ MORE: Fresh Red Bull tensions emerge with Max Verstappen ally reportedly 'frozen out'

Alonso responds to Newey's claim ahead of rumoured F1 retirement

Although Newey has promised a big upgrade in the near future, Alonso himself has said that it may not have any impact on his decision to retire ahead of next year.

“I cannot say that it’s really connected,” Alonso told reporters during the British Grand Prix.

“Because if the car is good or bad, there are other factors that I need to think about. “Maybe the car is super good and still (have) feelings that the sport is going in the wrong direction.

“Maybe the car is not improving much in Budapest, but we have another upgrade, or we have a completely new concept for next year, or there is a different feeling in the team that makes me think about continuing for more years.

“So it will help, no doubt. When I go on holidays the first of August, it will be nice to have a good race in Budapest just before the holiday, but it will not be the only point.”

Despite heading into the season with a lot of excitement and expectations, Aston Martin have arguably been the worst performers of the 2026 season so far.

With Alonso still chasing the elusive 33rd race win, it's understandable that sticking around in a car that is struggling to make it into the top 10, let alone win races, isn't exactly appealing.