With Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez making surprise comebacks with the new Cadillac team for 2026, attention turns to which active Formula 1 driver might be next to call time on their career.
Fernando Alonso presents the most compelling case at 44 years old. The Aston Martin driver has openly stated that 2026 could be his final season, contingent on the team's competitiveness under new regulations.
With the arrival of Honda and with Adrian Newey as Aston Martin's team principal, this year could be Alonso's strongest since 2023.
The decision for the Spaniard would be whether he wants to exit on a high or continue pushing to get the British outfit to the top.
Lewis Hamilton, despite a torrid 2025 at Ferrari stressed that he would not walk away and would race in 2026. However, at 41, time is against the seven-time world champion.
The dream to claim an eighth title remains as present as ever for Hamilton, but the bigger question is how much longer he is prepared to hang around for.
Nico Hulkenberg enjoyed a career-defining 2025, finally achieving his maiden podium at Silverstone aged 38. His move to Audi for 2026 suggests he's far from finished, though time naturally works against him.
Max Verstappen, at just 28, cannot also be ruled out, given his intention to race in endurance categories before his prime years expire.
Which driver do you think will be the next to retire from Formula 1?
Also interesting:
The 2026 F1 Cars Revealed: Everything You Need to Know!
Discover how the 2026 F1 regulations will revolutionise the sport, with a shift to movable wings instead of traditional DRS, to the increased electrical power in the hybrid systems, and the introduction of 100% sustainable fuel.
Don't miss out on any of the Formula 1 action thanks to this handy 2026 F1 calendar that can be easily loaded into your smartphone or PC.
Download the calenderMost read
In this article
Join the conversation!