FIA Pushes Rule Changes to Keep Alonso Racing — SkimNews
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- FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem declared 'There is no way we can allow Fernando to leave' and said he is working with the Power Unit Advisory Committee — which features all five engine manufacturers — to accelerate Honda's development, potentially through changes to ADUO (Additional Development Upgrades Opportunities) rules.
- Fernando Alonso said his decision on whether to stay at Aston Martin 'will not come soon,' with his contract expiring at the end of the 2026 season; he has scored points only twice this season amid frustration with the car and current regulations.
- Alonso indicated the 2027 power unit changes — which reduce electric output from near 50% to 42% — will heavily influence his decision, calling the current cars 'not the best cars to drive and to enjoy' but hoping next year is 'a step in the right direction.'
- Red Bull's Laurent Mekies and Mercedes' Toto Wolff both expressed openness to adjusting ADUO regulations to help Honda catch up, with Wolff calling the mechanism one 'designed as a catch-up mechanism' that 'needs more.'
- Honda has already used one of two engine upgrade opportunities this year, has at least two more available for 2027, and was granted an extra £14 million of development budget earlier this season.
- Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said the team wants Alonso to continue and is 'confident we can reach a good solution,' but acknowledged no Plan B exists since most of the 2027 grid is locked in — only Red Bull's second seat, Racing Bulls, Haas, and Audi remain open.
- Alonso became a father earlier this year and has hinted at a possible return to the World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours as alternative motorsport ambitions should he leave F1.
Why it matters: Ben Sulayem's personal intervention — openly saying he wants to change rules to keep one specific driver racing — is an unusual move for a regulator and signals how much F1 values Alonso commercially, even if it bends the usual arms-length governance model. With Honda already given £14m extra plus extra upgrade tokens, the question is whether rivals tolerate further ADUO tinkering, or whether Aston Martin's thin 2027 driver market forces their hand.
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