P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Fernando Alonso will carry on in Formula 1 until at least 2026, making the him the first 45-year-old to race in F1 since a fellow world champion
Fernando Alonso’s contract extension with Aston Martin will see him continue racing in Formula 1 past his 45th birthday in the 2026 season. This extension will mark his 23rd season in F1, with a projected total of over 450 grands prix entered by the end of the deal. Alonso is expected to be the first driver to achieve 400 starts in Qatar later this year, and with the 2026 calendar likely to include 24 races, the season finale will be the 1,173rd World Championship event. Assuming he competes in every race until then, Alonso’s total entries would reach 452, with 449 actual starts, making up around 38.53% of all F1 world championship races. Despite his remarkable longevity in the sport, Alonso would still have to race for another decade to surpass the record set by Louis Chiron, who remains the oldest F1 driver of all time at 55 years, nine months, and 19 days old. Alonso would have to compete in a grand prix after May 19, 2037, to break Chiron’s record, with a potential opportunity during the Monaco Grand Prix, historically known for hosting significant moments in F1 history.
