806 replies to this topic

[f1paul]

I know it's another Alonso thread, but it's kind of important so...

 

https://www.mclaren....lonso-decision/

 

Zak Brown on Alonso... 

 

 

 

“Fernando is not only an outstanding ambassador for McLaren but also for Formula 1. His 17 years in the sport, as arguably the pre-eminent driver of his generation and undoubtedly an F1 great, have added another layer to Formula 1’s rich history.

“There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his. We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career. Our open dialogue with Fernando has meant we could plan for this eventuality.

“While evaluating his future during the past months, Fernando’s competitiveness has been undimmed. He has continued to perform at the highest level throughout, as we know he will do in the remaining nine races of this year’s championship.

 

 

Nothing confirmed on what he's doing but to me it's finishing off this WEC Superseason and doing IndyCar (perhaps full time)

 

So Le Mans and Indy 500 in the same year AT LEAST. Right decision, just a shame it's ended this way. Hopefully he can come back to F1 in the future for one more season in a competitive car.

 

He has NOT retired from F1, it's just confirmed he will not race in F1 next year.

 

 

 

Hopefully you will be doing this again Fernando! It's not over yet. As one door closes, another one opens!

Edited by f1paul, 14 August 2018 - 15:24.

[Radion]

Only Kimi left

[Rors]

So he will race in 2020, 2021? He is only taking a temp brake till McLaren get back on form. 

[Muppetmad]

I for one welcome our new IndyCar overlords!

[pRy]

So he will race in 2020, 2021? He is only taking a temp brake till McLaren get back on form. 

 

Video message he's posted on social media suggests he's not coming back.

 

https://twitter.com/...382931830202368

Edited by pRy, 14 August 2018 - 15:09.

[Risil]

The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

[Niceman]

You have got to laugh at that press release...

[CSF]

So McLaren to have a race winning car next season guaranteed.

[MastaKink]

Sad to lose such a talent from F1 while still driving at such a high level but the future's set until 2021 with no chance of competitive machinery so going to IndyCar hopefully he can at least compete for wins and titles and then maybe 2021 new regs can throw up an opportunity, who knows. 

[Joseki]

[Eruobodo]

**** **** ****

[ArnageWRC]

Retirement means finishing his career - he's merely leaving F1, not retiring. The same happened with Webber & Loeb.......they both switched series. 

[vista]

Finally then.. He does indeed finish on top. It has been a pleasure following him and watching his racecraft and magic starts! 

 

I just wish he would have had a winning car more often in his career. 

Edited by vista, 14 August 2018 - 15:14.

[Disgrace]

Assuming Alonso makes a full-time switch to IndyCar. 

[Rors]

Video message he's posted on social media suggests he's not coming back.

 

https://twitter.com/...382931830202368

 

Look Alonso is being nice to McLaren he does not want to tell them he will come back and race for another team. Because that is exactly what he will do if a Merc  seat comes free in 2 years! Make no mistake about it. He realised in May McLaren is a lost cause and a team he will never win a race with the team in the next 2 years. He may come back to them if they get their act together in 2021 but his eye will be on better teams like Merc. 

Edited by Rors, 14 August 2018 - 15:16.

[Coral]

Well. I for one am very sad and disappointed at this news.  Alonso is one of the best drivers in F1 and it will be all the poorer without him.

 

Alonso really should have more than two World Championships. Oh, what might have been...

[Balnazzard]

Sad to lose such a talent from F1 while still driving at such a high level but the future's set until 2021 with no chance of competitive machinery so going to IndyCar hopefully he can at least compete for wins and titles and then maybe 2021 new regs can throw up an opportunity, who knows. 

Alonso himself said quite clearly that he wont be in F1 in 2021 when the new regulations are coming, said he isnt interested them in one bit, cause he wont be racing in F1 when that happens.

I for one, was never biggest fan of Alonso for various different reasons....but I never questioned his ability and talent as racing driver. Definitely with better equipment he would have won more championships, but in F1 you also partly make your own luck.

 

Alonso and Kimi are both going to be on that category of drivers that never managed to win as much as you might have expected them to do at one point, although from different reasons.

Anyhow it was always gonna happen sooner or later, I was surprised Alonso wanted to stay this long considering how difficult it was with Mclaren. But now he still has chance to win in Indy, or whatever else he might do the following years before retiring alltogether from motorsport.

Edited by Balnazzard, 14 August 2018 - 15:18.

[sopa]

Well, that's over then. Alonso had a great career in F1. Two championships, 32 wins.

 

Late career dwindled down into worse machineries, so understandably he had enough.

 

If we assume he'll do IndyCar full season next year, then that's great news and looking forward to see him over there.

[MastaKink]

Alonso himself said quite clearly that he wont be in F1 in 2021 when the new regulations are coming, said he isnt interested them in one bit, cause he wont be racing in F1 when that happens.

 

I've heard lots of drivers say lots of things. 

[aray]

Goodbye Alonso. I watched your debut. I watched your first win. I watched your first championship win. I would have liked to see that 3rd championship so so much, but reality is rather hard. May your future endeavours bear more fruits. Good luck mate ! 

[maximilian]

Notice his IndyCar helmet in the back, when saying "I have some other bigger challenges"

[A Day In The Life]

Great, only Hamilton and Vettel to go and I can start watching F1 again.

[SonGoku]

''We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career''.

 

Yes clown Brown, but it doesn't matter with the crap car you deliver him. McLaren have killed the last part of his F1 career.

[kosmos]

Best decision he can take. A legend of the sport even if the haters won't ever recognize it. Now at full speed for the triple crown!.

[Nathan]

Sad day.  I remember his debut.  We were so young...

[AustinF1]

Retirement means finishing his career - he's merely leaving F1, not retiring. The same happened with Webber & Loeb.......they both switched series. 

Yep. I think if he were even officially retiring just from F1, then that word would be used, and that it was purposefully not used.

[Brod]

Sad day. 

[messy]

Alonso is a driver I've followed since his debut season in F3000 in that lovely lime green Telefonica car, it was clear he was amazing back then and it's clear now as he ends his F1 career that he's maybe one of the all time greats. I'm not surprised, though. Not at all.

Norris and Sainz at McLaren next season?

[Rors]

Alonso himself said quite clearly that he wont be in F1 in 2021 when the new regulations are coming, said he isnt interested them in one bit, cause he wont be racing in F1 when that happens.

I for one, was never biggest fan of Alonso for various different reasons....but I never questioned his ability and talent as racing driver. Definitely with better equipment he would have won more championships, but in F1 you also partly make your own luck.

 

Alonso and Kimi are both going to be on that category of drivers that never managed to win as much as you might have expected them to do at one point, although from different reasons.

Anyhow it was always gonna happen sooner or later, I was surprised Alonso wanted to stay this long considering how difficult it was with Mclaren. But now he still has chance to win in Indy, or whatever else he might do the following years before retiring alltogether from motorsport.

 

Link for that? Also Alonso has said many things  for instance Ferrari will be his last team. So excuse me for not believing he wont come back in 2021 if Merc have a free seat for him! 

[AustinF1]

Take 2019 & 20 to potentially win the WEC championship, the 500, the IndyCar championship, and then maybe even return to F1 in 2021 when the new cars hit the track ...

 

Could be the 2nd ever Triple Crown winner, and the first to win a Triple Crown of those Championships.

 

 

 

Let's go.

Edited by AustinF1, 14 August 2018 - 15:35.

[DrivenF1]

Right decision for him. Shame for F1 - a prized asset & star lost. 

 

All the best for the future Fernando 

[AustinF1]

Link for that? 

Yeah, I don't think he ever said all that.

[Quickshifter]

What a legend. He is retiring from f1 at stage when he is still at the peak of his powers

 

Massive respect for Nando.  Alonso epitomized tenacity, resilience, aggression behind the wheel and incredible raw ability which honed him in to the best driver of his generation.

[Stephane]

That leaves one driver older than me on the grid

[MCR]

In my opinion, the greatest F1 driver of the last 20 years.  I do not believe there is anyone on the current grid as good as he is.  Luck didn't fall his way,

[Joseki]

My first motorrace was the 2003 Hungarian GP. That's the end of an era for me.

[Architrion]

F1 will be a sadder and poorer place to be after a true legend departs. Feels as painful as when Senna died, even if I didn't liked Ayrton a single atom. But after watching F1 since 1984 I've come to know when a great driver is behind the wheel, even if my likings are miles away from it. This was one of the best I've seen. Just there with Ayrton and Prost, My opinion. Not debatable.

[pRy]

Look Alonso is being nice to McLaren he does not want to tell them he will come back and race for another team. Because that is exactly what he will do if a Merc  seat comes free in 2 years! Make no mistake about it. He realised in May McLaren is a lost cause and a team he will never win a race with the team in the next 2 years. He may come back to them if they get their act together in 2021 but his eye will be on better teams like Merc. 

 

I admire your optimism but I suspect you're going to be disappointed if you think Mercedes would replace Lewis Hamilton with a 40 year old Fernando Alonso. They've plenty of young talented options available to them. And I say that not to suggest Fernando isn't good enough to win a title in a Mercedes. He clearly is. But I personally think it's fantasy to imagine he would somehow come back to the sport in a couple of years and land a top drive. Life and F1 just doesn't work that way unfortunately. I'll be happy to be proven wrong but I think this is a good bye from him. And the right decision.

[CountDooku]

Seems like Alonso doesn't have "it" anymore. Poor McLaren, he cost them half a billion dollars and then left them up sh*t creek without a V6T Hybrid.

[Boing 2]

So next years McLaren will be a title contender then......

[Rors]

McLaren ruined his career when you come to think about it. Some places are just not meant to be for you and McLaren was his bad luck team. If only he had resisted signing with them and stuck with Ferrari. Sad...

[f1paul]

This though...

 

 

     

[P123]

A shame for F1 but Alonso can now get busy with Indycar and the Indy 500. Good luck to him. I'll enjoy seeing him racing for victories in highly entertaining and raceable machinery.

[crespo]

[jstrains]

I hope this will be his last bashing thread on this forum...

Thank you Fernando, I hope I will find someone I can cheer for like you in the future.

[FirstnameLastname]

Good. For his ‘status’ he’s not really achieved a great amount (other than whinging) these past few years. Crazy how long he’s been in f1 and never replicated those early Renault years.

Bit embarrassing for McLaren after they’ve spent so long pandering to him, with the Indycar foray and binning off their works partner.

Whoops.

[SophieB]

What a pisser.

Good luck to him in whatever he does next and cheers for all the entertainment down the years.

[Rors]

I admire your optimism but I suspect you're going to be disappointed if you think Mercedes would replace Lewis Hamilton with a 40 year old Fernando Alonso. They've plenty of young talented options available to them. And I say that not to suggest Fernando isn't good enough to win a title in a Mercedes. He clearly is. But I personally think it's fantasy to imagine he would somehow come back to the sport in a couple of years and land a top drive. Life and F1 just doesn't work that way unfortunately. I'll be happy to be proven wrong but I think this is a good bye from him. And the right decision.

 

Well as long as he is active and winning he stands a chance. I know the most sought after driver in 2021 will be Max, however you have to understand Merc did hire a 40year old Schumacher so if Lewis does retire in 2 years I can see them hiring Alonso .  

[Boing 2]

McLaren ruined his career when you come to think about it. Some places are just not meant to be for you and McLaren was his bad luck team. If only he had resisted signing with them and stuck with Ferrari. Sad...

 

He'd be in his 9th season with them and with all likelihood still not have a third title, he would however ahve been able to pick up wins and go out at the sharp end.

[KrlBrmmn]

McLaren ruined his career when you come to think about it. Some places are just not meant to be for you and McLaren was his bad luck team. If only he had resisted signing with them and stuck with Ferrari. Sad...

 

Not just McLaren, Ferrari made some poor cars also during his time, but particularly the 5 years from 2014-2018 he's had worse longest run of cars a WDC has had in the field.