FIA president makes Fernando Alonso vow over F1 retirement fear

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has stated he will do all he can to convince Fernando Alonso to continue in F1 next season.

Alonso has not yet confirmed if he will remain part of the F1 grid in 2027, as he mulls over his options.

The two-time champion has endured a challenging F1 campaign with Aston Martin, who has slipped towards the rear of the pecking order at the start of the sport's new era under fresh technical regulations.

He detailed in the build-up to the Madrid race weekend that he also has an option to race for Aston Martin in the World Endurance Championship next year.

But Ben Sulayem insisted he has spoken to Alonso in a bid to sway him to stick around for 2027.

“There is no way we can allow Fernando, a great champion, to leave just because of the circumstances,” Ben Sulayem said at the New Economy Forum in Madrid.

“That's not the way to leave the stage. He has to be successful and then he leaves whenever he wants - not because of the performance.

“I share the issues, the car is not performing. I met with Lawrence [Stroll] yesterday, and I am going to do the changes. 

“I will talk to him [Alonso] to try and make him change his mind. It's not acceptable. 

“I heard some rumours, when I saw him, he didn't mention it. When I see him, I will be speaking to him.

“I said to him, 'I saw him [Alonso] very sad'. I said, 'Fernando, it's not acceptable that you are coming to your country after now, a two-time world champion, and you are last'.”

Ben Sulayem points to ADUO change behind Honda boost hope

While Aston Martin has struggled for form, so too has its engine partner Honda.

The Japanese manufacturer has an aid in the ADUO system, which allows those who are behind the benchmark to allocate extra resources to their engine in a bid to improve.

The FIA made further changes to it earlier this year - allowing those who are vastly adrift to have even more of a chance to catch up.

Ben Sulayem suggested it was a direct measure to help Honda.

“We did something earlier in May, legally, for the team, towards the engine, to go and improve,” he said.

“Then I said to him, 'I'm not going to tell you what we are going to do. Please tell me what you want, you are the driver - come and tell me what you want us to do to improve this result'.

“Suddenly, you see everything change.”