Fernando Alonso has been linked with a remarkable return to former team Alpine, as speculation grows in the Formula 1 paddock that the Spaniard could make one final switch before retirement, amid Aston Martin’s continued struggles for form.
Alonso, who turns 45 in July, has previously said he wants to finish his Formula 1 career with Aston Martin, but talk of a possible late-career move dominated the paddock at the Spanish Grand Prix. According to Motorsport.com, speculation is mounting that Alonso could be welcomed back to the Enstone-based team by boss Flavio Briatore, who remains Alonso’s manager and continues to enjoy a close relationship with the driver.
Alonso has already enjoyed three previous spells with the team, most notably winning consecutive drivers’ championships in 2005 and 2006 while it raced under the Renault name. Later stints between 2008 and 2009, and again from 2021 to 2022, proved far less successful by comparison.
A move back to Alpine would, however, mean abandoning the long-term arrangement Alonso has in place with Aston Martin. While his racing career is clearly approaching its end, his current deal is believed to secure him an ambassadorial role with the team once he stops competing, keeping him connected to the sport for years to come.
The speculation comes at a difficult time for Aston Martin, who entered this season hoping to move closer to the front of the grid as part of their long-term push for World Championship success. Instead, performance has regressed, and the team’s new engine partnership with Honda has endured what has been described as a catastrophic start.
