Pedro de la Rosa has indicated that Fernando Alonso will decide on his own terms when the time is right to end his Formula 1 career. The Aston Martin ambassador spoke exclusively to Motorsport Week, saying he does not want to pressure the driver into a decision.
Alonso is enduring a tough season with Aston Martin. The Silverstone-based team has struggled to adapt to the new regulations, and Alonso has publicly criticised the technical package. Nevertheless, he recently became the 14th-oldest points-scorer in F1 history with a ninth-place finish in Holland, taking Aston Martin's 2026 tally to three points.
Speculation about his retirement is mounting. But De la Rosa, a close friend of Alonso, chooses not to ask directly. "What I try with Fernando is I don't ask him if he will stay or not," he said. "I think the best way, as we are good friends, is just let him get on with it and take the decision that he feels more comfortable with."
De la Rosa added that Alonso knows how much the team wants him to stay. "He knows we would love him to stay. He knows I want him to stay, but we have to respect him and give him some space to take the best possible decision for himself," he continued.
Beyond raw speed, De la Rosa highlighted Alonso's added value. "I love working with him. His feedback is outstanding. He also gives priorities very clearly on what the team needs and when. In a cost-cap world, this is very valuable," he explained.
At the new Madrid circuit, De la Rosa saw firsthand how Alonso quickly understands the car's limits. "After a few laps, you know how competitive you are and how competitive any driver can drive this car to its limits," he added.
De la Rosa even admitted a selfish reason for wanting Alonso to stay. "One of the reasons I came back to F1 is to work with Fernando. So I hope he stays!" he laughed. "But in any case, we have to give our drivers a better package. That's the key. It doesn't matter who you have, you have to give them a car where they can really have fun and bring good results."
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