Alonso thinking about life after F1

Fernando Alonso has been talking about what he plans to do following his eventual departure from Formula 1, hinting that the World Endurance Championship is a likely option. Alonso's future in F1 with McLaren-Honda looked bleak, however he signed a deal with McLaren after it announced it would be parting ways with the Japanese manufacturer at the end of 2017.

Alonso confirmed that along with his F1 duties this year, he would be racing in the WEC with Toyota, including the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Spaniard is attempting to replicate Graham Hill's feat of winning the Triple Crown of Motorsport (Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans). 

Speaking about what his life will entail after F1, he said:  "The level demanded by F1, in terms of time and preparation, is huge, and after so many years, you realise that the time will come when that's just not possible anymore," he told Spanish newspaper AS.

"It's a bit like Carlos Sainz, when he decided to leave the World Rally Championship. It didn't mean that he had elected Dakar as his future. It's just that he likes rallies, he'd been world champion, but you need to be training and traveling every day all of the time - then all of a sudden there's a rally which is held once a year, it's exotic and very prestigious and you have the opportunity to race in it

"It's not really a case of making a conscious choice. You just like the competition and find it appealing because you enjoy racing and you have the chance to combine the two things and do something new which you haven't had the opportunity to do during many years of competition. The WEC gives you that. You have fewer races over the year. You can get a little of your life back but, at the same time, continue competing."

Alonso's current contract with McLaren is a multi-year deal, set to expire in three years' time. However, while the WEC has a less demanding schedule than F1, Alonso doesn't think that he'll be racing in ten years.

"I don't think I'll be racing [in ten years]," Alonso said. "I'd like to be doing something which doesn't involve so much traveling and take up so much of my time. In motorsport, it's difficult to do something where you can work from home. Right now I can't see that, but who knows?"

Fergal Walsh