Alonso suggests an F1 extension, while Honda discusses a 'new engine.'

      "I still feel competitive, I still feel fast, and I love what I do."

      Fernando Alonso has suggested that he may extend his Formula 1 career beyond 2026, stating that he does not wish to leave the sport on a negative note. The 44-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time, expressed to L’Equipe that he remains as competitive as ever. "When I’m in Spain, I go karting and race against kids aged 9, 12, or 15. I still compete with them using the same mindset," he remarked.

      With uncertainty surrounding his future after his current contract expires, Alonso emphasized that performance will be crucial in his decision-making. "I wouldn’t want to exit F1 on a low point. If the car isn’t performing, I’ll race for another year," the Spaniard stated.

      However, the outlook at Aston Martin is not encouraging, as the team continues to face challenges alongside Honda. "The first two races were tough, this one was hard, and the next ten will be difficult. I’m telling you this now," Alonso noted at Suzuka. "We’re not going to see any immediate changes. The first half of the year will be very challenging, and hopefully, the latter part will improve."

      He underscored that progress will take time. "In F1, things don’t change overnight," Alonso remarked. "This will take months, and I think we’ll see a similar situation every weekend until summer or after."

      Despite the challenging start, Alonso believes that patience is one of his key strengths. "I consider myself the best at patience," he smiled. "There are drivers who explode when given a car that’s not even in the top five. I’ve been competing for victories for 23 years with cars that aren’t even in the top four."

      During Honda’s home race, the situation was stark as both cars qualified at the back of the grid. Honda’s chief engineer, Shintaro Orihara, openly expressed his disappointment. "This isn’t what we wanted to show our fans. This isn’t what we aimed for, but it reflects our performance. We know there is a lot of work ahead," he stated.

      He also responded to recent comments from Adrian Newey regarding many Honda F1 staff being redirected to create "solar panels." "It’s our philosophy," Orihara explained. "We allocate our time between motorsport and other projects. Now we are confident that we have the right engineers for our project," he affirmed.

      However, he acknowledged that a proper resolution to the ongoing crisis will not be swift or easy. "It’s challenging to provide a timeline because these regulations are very complex. Every time we enter the garage, we consider it, but we are also working at Sakura to enhance performance. Discussing timelines is complicated, but eventually, we will unveil the new engine," Orihara revealed.