Fernando Alonso casts doubt on his F1 future as he champions Barcelona’s place on the calendar beyond 2026 in ambassador role.
The new ambassador of the Barcelona circuit shares his thoughts ahead of his home race
Fernando Alonso admits he is not certain about remaining on the grid, even if the Circuit de Barcelona manages to extend its contract with Formula 1 beyond 2026.
The future of the three-decade-old Barcelona race hangs by a thread, with the streets of Madrid poised to take over the official title of the Spanish Grand Prix starting in 2026.
Next year, Barcelona may potentially host its final Grand Prix.
Ignasi Armengol, head of the new circuit management entity Fira Circuit, refused this week to confirm whether a contract extension announcement was possible this weekend.
“To be honest, I can’t answer. I don’t know the exact progress of the negotiations at the moment.”
Meanwhile, two-time world champion Alonso has been officially named ambassador of the Circuit de Catalunya, and his message yesterday was that he wanted a new agreement to be set “for many years to come.”
“It’s true that this would mean having two Grands Prix in Spain, but the circuit has been around for three decades and will continue to exist for the next three, four or five decades,” said the Aston Martin F1 driver.
“The other circuit (in Madrid) might be more temporary, right? But I think it’s important for Spain to have long-term stability.”
However, Alonso openly admits that next year’s race in Barcelona could be both his last in F1 and the circuit’s final Grand Prix.
“I don’t know if I’ll be racing in 2027. For now, my contract only runs through 2026 in terms of driving, even though I’m committed to Aston Martin F1 long-term. I’ll decide next year. But I hope the circuit continues, and I’m confident it will.”
Alonso’s bond with Barcelona circuit
Fernando Alonso is set to race this weekend on home soil at the Spanish Grand Prix, held at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The Aston Martin F1 driver is now an ambassador for a track where he has often excelled.
“I’m delighted to have become an ambassador for the circuit. I received tremendous support there from my early years in Formula 1 and I also claimed victories there,” said the two-time world champion.
“I have amazing memories of racing on this circuit and I shared those experiences with Spanish fans, so I have a special connection to the track. I hope to pass that feeling on to the next generation and help grow the sport even more in Spain. The Spanish Grand Prix is always a special moment in the season for me.”
“Racing at home, hearing the fans chant your name from the grandstands, is something you never get used to. Every year, it’s a privilege to come back and race in front of them. The atmosphere is electric, and the support gives you that extra push behind the wheel. Spanish fans are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about motorsport.”
“There’s always been strong support here, but in recent years, especially with the global rise in Formula 1’s popularity, the excitement around this race has grown even more. It feels like it’s become one of the most popular European races.”
Meeting fans ‘in a different setting’
Alonso experienced this popularity firsthand Wednesday evening in the fanzone. Before attending, he looked forward to the interaction:
“It’ll be nice to see some of the fans before the weekend kicks off, and I know Pedro is also looking forward to it. We get tremendous support throughout the race weekend both on track and in the circuit’s Fanzone.”
“But this is a chance for fans to see us in a different setting, and for those who can’t attend the race to still come and get a taste of F1. It’s right in the heart of the city, so there will be a lot of people and hopefully a lot of Aston Martin Racing Green.”
“In collaboration with our partner Valvoline, the team has set up a pop-up garage in the Fan Village where fans can step into the shoes of an F1 mechanic and try the pit stop challenge by changing the wheel on our car. I’m really looking forward to seeing how everyone does and who will be the fastest.”
Despite some personal misfortune and difficulties this season, the Spaniard remains positive about certain aspects, particularly the recent progress:
“Of course, the season has been tough so far and we haven’t achieved the results we would have liked.”
“But there are positives to take, especially from the last two rounds. Starting positions in the top ten for both the Emilia-Romagna and Monaco Grands Prix show that the recent upgrades to the AMR25 have improved our one-lap pace.”
“We’ve been unlucky on Sundays in the races, one due to the timing of a VSC and another due to an issue with the car. I hope that bad luck changes soon and that we’ll be in a position to capitalize. I’m looking forward to getting back in the car and seeing what we can do this weekend.”
‘Good conversations’ with Newey in Monaco
At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Alonso notes that teams can thoroughly assess their cars in all areas. Alongside these assessments, tyre management will be a key factor in succeeding at the Spanish round of the calendar.
“It allows teams to examine all aspects of the car in depth, which is why it has so often been used as a test track over the years. There are long straights, sequences of fast corners and also slower sections that pose different challenges.”
“The layout puts a lot of demand on the aerodynamic package with the long corners, and it’s also physically demanding due to high G-forces in the fast sections. Tyre management is always something to consider because of the long, fast corners and typically high track temperatures.”
Adrian Newey’s presence in Monaco proved constructive:
“We had good conversations over the weekend, and it was great to see him at the track with us in green. I’ve already spoken to him several times since his arrival, and it’s exciting to see him working with the team and helping us on our journey.”
“Lance and I spent time with him a few weeks ago at the AMR technology campus, and he shared his thoughts and ideas on the 2026 car. It’s a positive to have Adrian with us. He’s had a huge impact on the sport, and it’s fantastic to be working together – we’ve been close in the past, and I’m glad it’s finally happening.”
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