Will charm offensive keep Fernando Alonso in F1?

Formula 1 is not ready to let Fernando Alonso slip away just yet.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem recently indicated that he is examining adjustments to help engine manufacturers who are falling behind, such as Honda, in a bid to stop the two-time F1 champion from walking away prematurely because his Aston Martin machinery cannot compete at the front.

Ben Sulayem made his position clear at the New Economy Forum in Madrid, over the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, making clear that it would be unacceptable for a driver of Alonso's stature to leave the sport simply because his car is not capable of fighting at the sharp end.

It remains unclear exactly what measure the FIA president has in mind. What is certain is that the ADUO [Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities] mechanism is part of the discussion.

The system allows engine manufacturers who are lagging behind, such as Honda, to receive extra development resources to close the gap to the benchmark supplier. Red Bull is currently regarded as the strongest of the manufacturers.

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Quit or keep going?

The motive behind the FIA's interest is obvious. Alonso has been openly questioning his future beyond 2027, driven by Aston Martin's disappointing form and his own criticism of the current regulations.

The Spaniard has repeatedly hit out at the outsized role of electric power management in the current generation of engines, arguing that driver skill has become too subordinate to the battery as a result.

Before the Spanish Grand Prix, Ben Sulayem had already spoken with Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll and indicated he intended to speak personally with Alonso to try to persuade him to extend his career in the top flight.

Alonso himself says he is in regular contact with both Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, and has stated that his decision for 2027 will depend partly on whether the technical regulations again reward driving talent more heavily.

Rule changes aimed at limiting the influence of the battery have already been announced.

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Aston Martin's rivals were not particularly taken aback by Ben Sulayem's comments. Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies said: "As much as we don't always agree with each other, I think that as a sport we try to approach the regulations with a reasonably open mind.

"And you may recall that earlier this year, an initial change was already made to the ADUO regulations, precisely to help the teams that were falling far further behind than initially estimated. All teams voted on this, and we voted in favour of the change, in the best interest of the sport."

"So, as I said: we don't agree on everything, but as stakeholders within the sport, we normally find solutions when there's a situation that needs to be resolved or requires support."

Aston Martin itself is working the problem from more than one angle. Alongside a race seat, the Silverstone-based outfit has also offered Alonso a role beyond the cockpit, including a multi-year ambassadorship and an advisory position within the organisation for life after his active career.

A tilt at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Aston Martin Valkyrie is also on the table, a distinct possibility for next season as next year's race does not clash with a grand prix.

Whether Alonso will still be racing in F1 beyond 2026 remains an open question. But the sport's charm offensive to keep him there is now in full swing.