Alonso not closing the door on a return to F1

Arriving in the United Arab Emirates in the wake of the 6 Hours of Shanghai, Fernando Alonso admits to not having yet really realized that the curtain was about to fall on an 18-year career, crowned with a pair of world titles, 32 victories, and 97 podiums. 

The Asturian announced in the summer his intention not to compete in Grands Prix in 2019 but he never mentioned a definitive retirement either. The history of the F1 features several examples of world champions taking a sabbatical before returning. Let us quote Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, and Nigel Mansell or more recently Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen. In the case of the first two named, they had worn a third and fourth planetary crown respectively.

“At the moment, it's difficult to imagine returning to F1 but the door is not closed because I don't know how I will feel next year, said Alonso from Abu Dhabi. I've been doing this all my life you know. Maybe in 2019 I'll be miserable on my couch and find a way to come back. But that is not the initial goal. If it happens, it will be for me and not because this or that factor is present or because the clock is ticking. I don't have a deadline in mind, for example. We’ll see how I feel in the middle of next year.”

Alonso has other goals in mind, first and foremost this Triple Crown of which he owns two of the three jewels with his F1 titles and his victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2018. In May 2019, he will try to join Graham Hill by adding success to the Indianapolis 500.

“For now, I am focusing on my personal challenge, the quest for the Triple Crown, he added. For 2020, I don't know yet, it seems very far away. We'll see what the future holds. Life is long and beautiful. I don't know yet what I will do. What is certain is that I will always love F1, as a driver, fan, father, boss of the FIA ​​who is it? ".