> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.the-race.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# The surprise plan to keep Alonso in F1
- URL: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/the-surprise-plan-to-keep-fernando-alonso-in-f1/
- Published: 2026-09-11T20:47:42.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T20:47:42.000Z
- Description: FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is working on a fresh rules concession plan to help accelerate Honda’s progress and keep Fernando Alonso in F1
- Author: Jon Noble
- Tags: Formula 1, #aston-martin, #fernando-alonso, #primary_homepage_feature

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem is working on a fresh rules concession plan to help accelerate Honda’s progress and keep Fernando Alonso in Formula 1.

Alonso is currently weighing up whether he wants to stay in grand prix racing next year, as he feels little excitement for F1’s current regulations and is facing competitive uncertainties too.

It has emerged at the Spanish Grand Prix, however, that efforts are underway behind the scenes to give Aston Martin’s struggling engine supplier Honda an extra helping hand for 2027 – and therefore boost Alonso’s incentive to remain.

Fresh from a difficult Italian Grand Prix outing for Honda’s upgraded power unit, Ben Sulayem met with Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll on Thursday to discuss a potential action plan that can help both his squad’s competitive fortunes and secure a fresh contract with Alonso.

It is understood that the FIA president, having spoken to Alonso at Monza, plans further talks with the two-time world champion in Madrid to try push forward with a package of measures that can help.

Earlier this year, the FIA helped secure agreement from all manufacturers for Honda to be granted extra assistance under the ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) catch-up mechanism.

This opened the door for Honda to get more test bench hours plus the ability to secure an extra $19 million spending package – although some of this was taken as [a theoretical loan](https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/how-honda-19-million-dollar-f1-bailout-will-really-work/) against its own future development budget.

It is unclear what fresh assistance Stroll and Alonso are chasing now, and sources suggest that discussions have not yet got as far as any formal rule change details being focused on and talked about in detail with Honda.

Options could involve more homologation freedoms, extra spending allowances or even specific rule changes in areas where Honda feels that its progress is being limited. 

Any tweaks to the rules would need support from other manufacturers, however, who showed earlier this year that they were willing to put self-interest aside to assist.

Sources have told The Race that Ben Sulayem is determined to do everything in his power to help push this matter through, as he thinks this would be of benefit to F1 as a whole.

That is because he wants to avoid a situation where Honda is stuck where it is – which would risk both Alonso walking and the Japanese engine manufacturer itself even pondering its own future in F1 if it continues to face difficulties on track.

### Alonso 'very sad'

Speaking at the New Economy Forum event in Madrid on Friday morning, Ben Sulayem spoke about how a chat he had with Alonso at the Italian GP had sparked a call to action.

He revealed that he was awaiting some feedback from Alonso about what the FIA can do to assist things.

“I saw him very sad,” said Ben Sulayem. “I said, Fernando, I understand that it's not acceptable that you are coming to your own country, and then now, after two times \[being\] the world champion, you are in the last \[place\]. 

“We did something earlier in May, legally, for the team, towards the engine, to go and improve.

“I said to him, I'm not going to tell you what we are going to do. Please tell me what you want! Because you are the driver, come and tell me what do you want us to do, to improve these results.”

On Thursday, Alonso hinted at potential changes being on the horizon beyond the fuel flow increase that has been set in stone.

His comments caused intrigue in the paddock, but now appear to be related to his conversations with Ben Sulayem.

“I still have some hope that next year’s rule will still have to be tweaked again, that this is not the final version,” he said.

Aston Martin chief trackside officer Mike Krack said at the Madring circuit that a decision on Alonso’s future would depend on a lot of factors. But he had faith that, whatever it was Alonso wanted, it would be seen through.

**“**I think he made clear that it is not one single thing that he wants to see change,” explained Krack. “I think the sport needs someone like that. I think we will all be keen to see Fernando continue.

“And what can be done to accommodate, I think it will be done. And then I hope we come to a good solution and continue.” 

Ben Sulayem is emphatic that he will do what he can to ensure that this is not Alonso’s final year in F1.

“There's no way we can allow Fernando to leave,” he said. “He has to be successful, and then he leaves whenever he wants, not because he was forced to leave because of the performance.”