[3798j]

Alonso indicated he'd make his decision regarding plans for next season and beyond during the summer F1 break. Rumors have said he'll announce today. The IRL teased with this tweet late yesterday.

[rockstar93]

Can't say this came as a surprise in the slightest, especially after his LeMans win.

[E9TOU]

Wow! With Alonso and F1, it could've gone either way as far as his future was concerned. I personally thought he was going to stay in F1 until he was ready to retire from motorsports altogether so this is kind of surprising. I understand the move though and I'm sure he's going to miss the "circus" aspect of F1, although wherever he goes it's sure to make some noise.

[3798j]

Back late last month, Autoweek reported Michael Andretti saying that if Zak Brown and Alonso don’t decide until the next IndyCar Series race at Pocono on August 19, “it will be too late” to put a competitive deal together for a car in the 2019.

[M3_WC]

It would be a huge boost to IndyCar if Alonso joined the series full time. Similar to when Mansell came over to race in Champ Car.

[uniqueMR]

Fernando Alonso confirms decision to quit Formula 1 for 2019

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/903436...formula-1-2019

[ashtaron14]

He didn't say anything about retiring or quitting, just time to move on.

So that's good.

[autoart]

I would love to see him stay in f1 and go to HAAS to replace Romain Grosjean

[madmax240]

they should do musical chairs right now. for the rest of 2018, put DR in the Renault. Alonso in the Red Bull and Sainz in the McLaren.

[3798j]

So Alonso's 4 lap average qualifying speed yesterday was 227.2 mph. That speed would have put him in the 4th row for last year's Indy 500. This year it wasn't good enough to make the top 30. Today he fights for one of the remaining three grid spots...six drivers trying for three spots. Sure hope he can do it.

[Mtxzptlk]

No dice. I guess no F1 return for '20.

[yco]

Originally Posted by Mtxzptlk

No dice. I guess no F1 return for '20.

im not sure any of F1 teams wants him to race for them..

[NickyC]

Good grief, what a disappointment.

[iamwingman]

I’ll be pulling for Ericsson.

[3798j]

Remarkable that this, the 103rd running, is the closest field in the history of the event with a four-lap average differential of only 2.62 mph between the first and last qualifier. Alonso missed the 33rd slot by less than .02 seconds.

[mk1-fan]

Originally Posted by yco

im not sure any of F1 teams wants him to race for them..

Exactly. He has burned all the bridges. Also, there are way too many young brilliant drivers coming through the ranks now.

[3798j]

Originally Posted by mk1-fan

...He has burned all the bridges...

Maybe not...https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/38423...t-ferrari.html

[mk1-fan]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Maybe not...https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/38423...t-ferrari.html

I don't get it. There are so many talented new drivers. Even better, why not get someone like Ricciardo or Verstappen? Alonso, at best, has 2-3 years left in F1. I would much rather invest my time and money in someone that has at least 5 years left.

Make no sense to me.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by mk1-fan

I don't get it. There are so many talented new drivers. Even better, why not get someone like Ricciardo or Verstappen? Alonso, at best, has 2-3 years left in F1. I would much rather invest my time and money in someone that has at least 5 years left.

Make no sense to me.

That is going to be Leclerc.

[yco]

Alonso is not the Alonso like the times he was quick on track.. he has a big ego problem in recent years that im not sure he can live happily even by himself with it.. people around him is will be another story of course..

[madmax240]

Originally Posted by 3798j

Maybe not...https://www.gpblog.com/en/news/38423...t-ferrari.html

I was thinking this when I posted in the Vettle retirement thread.


But I don't think Alonso will return to F1 while Merc and LH are so dominant.


The story remains the same. As long as Merc and LH are smashing everyone, it doesn't matter if you're in a Ferrari or not. there's no second prize for the WDC.


for the record, the Ferrari this year is fast. really fast, but as a team, Merc do it better. except for tire choice at Monte Carlo.