Alonso warns of a major complication in the F1 regulations for 2026 that is going unnoticed
Fernando Alonso has pointed out an aspect that is going very unnoticed when evaluating the arrival of the new regulatory phase in Formula 1. This has to do with the calendar and, more specifically, with the extension of the preseason.
With October just around the corner, Formula 1 drivers have four months ahead before getting into a single-seater for the first time in the 2026 season. But before that happens, there are still seven Grand Prix and more than two months of competition left.
After that, it will be time to rest, recharge, and then resume physical training and start visiting the team's headquarters to prepare for the preseason. The difference is that, in 2026, everything will happen much earlier and, as a consequence, the winter break for the drivers will be shorter than ever.
From early January to mid-December, with no breaks. It will be demanding
The longest season in the history of Formula 1
This year, Formula 1 celebrates its second season with 24 Grand Prix, which sets a record in the competition. Next year, the number will not change, as the only alteration to the calendar will be the entry of Madrid in place of Imola.
Despite that, the 2026 season will be the longest in history if we consider the tests prior to the start of the competition. In recent years, these have started in late January, but this time the starting signal will be given on January 26 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
There, the 11 teams will complete five days of testing before moving to Bahrain for six more days divided into two phases (February 11-13 and 18-20). In total, 11 days of preseason before the Australian Grand Prix, which will take place between March 6 and 8 (check here for all schedules of this and the rest of the Grand Prix).
Alonso evaluates the change
Fernando Alonso has warned of the changes that the arrival of the new regulations will bring to the preparation of the drivers. The Aston Martin leader believes that, "in terms of driving style or specific training, I don't think we will do anything different to prepare during the winter".
On the other hand, the Asturian does believe that for the drivers, "it will be more about being prepared for the longest season in history: in addition to the 24 races, next year there will be more preseason tests".
"In winter, we used to have from the first or second week of December until February," recalls Fernando Alonso. "A little free time to train and restart the previous season. But this winter is going to be very short."
"Basically, it will only be from mid-December to the first week of January, because we will have to adjust the seat and all that kind of stuff to be ready for the first test at the end of January," argues the veteran 44-year-old driver.
Therefore, Alonso concludes that the key to starting 2026 well prepared will be "more in mental preparation and adopting a different approach this winter to be ready to start from early January to mid-December, with no breaks [except for the summer break]. And that will be demanding, let's say, from the driver's perspective."
In recent years, Fernando Alonso has acknowledged that the long calendar of Formula 1 will probably be what forces him to retire from the category, more than his desire to compete or his physical condition. And it is precisely in 2026, when the two-time world champion turns 45, that he must decide whether to renew his contract with Aston Martin or retire. We will see if in that decision a tightening schedule weighs more or just the team's performance.
Fotos: Aston Martin F1
