Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are by far the two oldest drivers on the grid. At 41 and 45 respectively they remain astonishingly popular. Yet both former world champions flirted cautiously with retirement last year. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali expects — and hopes — they will stay active for a while longer, while stressing that fans have already taken the newest generation of F1 drivers to their hearts.
Fernando Alonso indicated in 2025 that he wants to wait to assess Aston Martin’s competitiveness before making a decision about his future. His current contract expires this year, but if he believes he can still contest the world championship in 2027 he may be willing to extend. Former team-mate Lewis Hamilton openly doubted his own qualities last year, briefly leaving his F1 future hanging by a thread. Recently, however, he voiced confidence about the upcoming season and reiterated his undiminished love for the sport.
‘Can still compete for a long time’
During the test days in Bahrain, Stefano Domenicali was asked about a possible farewell from the two veterans. “When you talk about Lewis and Fernando, you’re talking about absolute giants of Formula 1,” he told the assembled media. “They are leading figures, although they currently face different challenges and opportunities. Do I think they’ll stop after this year? I have my doubts about that,” he admitted. “They’re both fighters and they’ve already shown that — provided the car and the team are right — they can keep competing for a long time.”
“To be honest, I don’t see them retiring,” Domenicali predicted. “I hope I’m right, because they’re a huge asset for Formula 1. At the same time, the sport has always been exciting, whatever happens. When we introduced five newcomers, they immediately proved hugely important for a younger generation,” he was referring to the five rookies who made their debuts in 2025. “Teenagers follow them in a way that’s fascinating to watch; it shows how the audience for our sport is shifting.”
