Alonso suggests he might remain with Aston, calling for patience regarding Honda.

      "I have been driving for 41 years of my life."

      Fernando Alonso has suggested that he might extend his time with Aston Martin beyond 2026, acknowledging that departing from Formula 1 would be "very difficult." Speaking at the Historic Monaco GP, the 44-year-old made it clear that retirement is not currently on his agenda, even though his current contract is approaching its end.

      "I love my profession. I enjoy racing. I participated in my first race when I was three, and now at 44, I have been behind the wheel for 41 years," Alonso stated. "So whenever the time comes to stop racing, it will be a very challenging choice to make."

      "Only time will tell. I’ll sense it. As of now, I don’t feel like that moment has arrived. I feel competitive, motivated, and joyful when I drive."

      "Therefore, I hope this isn’t my last season."

      However, he refrained from committing to any plans. "It’s difficult to say," Alonso remarked. "I need to feel it myself, but for the moment, I don’t believe the time has come yet."

      Aston Martin has had a rough start to its new collaboration with Honda. Nonetheless, Alonso emphasized the need for patience.

      "I understand how hard Honda is working. I realize it’s challenging for everyone. But we are united as a team and putting in every effort to progress."

      Alonso also downplayed the importance of finishing positions during this current period of rebuilding.

      "This year, there are 22 of us. One will emerge victorious, while the remaining 21 will face a tough season," he noted. "For me, finishing third, fifth, or 17th feels almost irrelevant. Any position outside first is equally challenging."

      "We’re just at the beginning of our journey with the team. It hasn’t been an ideal start, but this is the first year of collaboration between Aston Martin and Honda. We need to get through this, and I’m prepared to assist as much as I can."