F1: Alonso hints he will not return

Fernando Alonso has finalised his plans for 2021 and any chance of a return to Formula 1 will not happen next year.

The double world champion will race in the Indy 500 later this year having done the Dakar Rally last January.

The 38-year-old has told Spanish media he knows what he will be doing next year: “I know more or less what I’m going to do in 2021. I hope you will know soon, but I can’t say more now.

“I always said look, in 2021, there are new rules in Formula 1, I may come [back], because maybe there is more interest and the cars are more balanced, and maybe I’m hungry for travelling again or putting myself in contention.”

But, Formula 1’s decision to delay the new regulations until 2022 means there is little to no chance of Alonso returning and increases the likelihood of him never coming back to the sport.

Alonso believes delaying the new rules is bad news for F1:  “I think they need to balance the cars and need these new rules as soon as possible. But it’s a choice that is understandable, because with the current situation, it was not possible to develop the cars for next year.“

On the topic of potentially racing full-time in the IndyCar Series next year, Alonso played things down: “The commitment to do that will be too high, at this part of my life. I think a few years ago, maybe that was a possibility, but right now, to do 16 or 17 races, to know all the circuits, I will require a level of preparation or commitment that maybe at this time in life I’m not happy to take.

“The Indy 500 is already a nice commitment and a long preparation for one race, so I cannot imagine for the whole championship. That would be full dedication.”

Alonso last raced for McLaren in F1 in 2018. His most recent victory came at the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix for Ferrari. Last year he clinched a maiden World Endurance Championship for Toyota, including a second Le Mans victory.