Fernando Alonso maintains he will continue to be the "master of my own destiny" in both his personal life and Formula 1 career.
At 42, the two-time Formula 1 champion remains the most senior competitor on the circuit, with speculation rife about his potential dramatic move in 2025 to either Mercedes or Red Bull, alongside Aston Martin's eagerness to secure his signature for an extended period.
"I don't want to wait until the summer," he conveyed to DAZN in Melbourne, "because I think that's unfair for me but also for the team if they have to find more options.
"And as I said at the presentation of the car, when I make that decision, the first office I will go to will be Aston Martin, and that will be my priority, my loyalty to them," Alonso further mentioned.
"And if we reach an agreement, then that will be the decision. If I don't reach an agreement with Aston Martin, I will look elsewhere, but that will be a second option."
Throughout his extensive career, Alonso's decisions on team affiliations have sparked debate, including a controversial move to McLaren in 2007, unfruitful returns to both Renault and McLaren-Honda, his comeback to F1 with Alpine, and a stint at Ferrari that concluded without securing a third championship.
Nevertheless, Alonso is adamant about not seeking external guidance on his future moves, including the possibility of opting for retirement at the season's conclusion.
"I chose when to leave a team, when to join a team, when to leave Formula 1, when to return," the Spanish driver stated. "And now I will choose what to do next year.
"I will now follow what others do, I will do it for myself, for better or worse, that's who I am. I have always been like this.
"Sometimes it has helped me, sometimes it has hurt me, but I am the master of my own destiny. I always had my fate in my own hands."
