Brundle tells Aston Martin to drop Alonso and rebuild with young drivers as Rosberg disagrees

Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Alonso's home race, Brundle said that Aston Martin should begin their next phase with an all-new driver lineup. Brundle made it clear that F1 is better for Alonso's presence, but also questioned the wisdom of extending his contract.

He added: "We love having him around, but if I was the team, I'd be rebuilding the driver pairing ready for the next phase." Alonso has scored Aston Martin's only points this season, with the Adrian Newey-led project sitting 10th out of 11 teams in the standings. The 45-year-old, who has beaten teammate Lance Stroll in almost every competitive session this year, is debating whether to sign a new contract or retire from the sport.

Rosberg pushed back on Brundle's suggestion during the Sky Sports broadcast. The 2016 world champion pointed to Alonso's clear advantage over Stroll as evidence the Spaniard still delivers, even if Aston Martin's overall performance has been dire. Alonso is a two-time world champion, but also the oldest F1 driver for over half a century, while Stroll is safe by virtue of his father, Lawrence, owning the team.

The clash between Brundle and Rosberg adds another voice to an already heated debate over Alonso's future.

As GPblog has reported, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem would like to see Alonso remain in Formula 1 in 2027, and is keen to think along about ways to keep him on board.

A serious option is fine-tuning the ADUO regulation, allowing Honda to improve its power units more quickly and making a longer stay more attractive for the Spaniard.

Alonso finished Sunday's race two laps down in 17th, only beating Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas. Stroll retired from the race on lap 12. Honda has endured a troubled return to Formula 1 with Aston Martin in the F1 2026 season, with the team limited to just three points across the first 14 races.

Whether Lawrence Stroll would ever consider replacing his own son remains the elephant in the room. But Brundle's willingness to say publicly what many in the paddock have whispered privately, that both seats need a reset, has sharpened the conversation at a time when Alonso's decision could go either way.