Alonso to leave F1 after 2018

McLaren has confirmed that Fernando Alonso will leave Formula 1 following the 2018 season. The Spaniard made his debut back in 2001 for Minardi before going on to secure two world championships with Renault.

The 37-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers the sport has ever seen, picking up 32 wins and 97 podiums. His future has been debated for many months, and now it has been confirmed that he will depart the sport following the 2018 season.

"After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on. I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who have contributed to make them all so special.

“There are still several Grands Prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever. Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner. I’m having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to go on exploring new adventures."

Alonso first ventured away from the sport during the 2017 season, when he skipped the Monaco Grand Prix in favour of the Indianapolis 500. The double-world champion has not had a competitive car in F1 in many years, and has not won a race since 2013

Following his championship winning years at Renault, Alonso joined McLaren for a year. After falling out with the team, he returned to Renault for two seasons, before getting the call from Ferrari.

However, a championship with the Scuderia never surfaced, and he left the Maranello-based squad in 2014. He re-joined McLaren in search of a new challenge, but endured three painful years as Honda, who ran as McLaren's engine supplier, failed to produce a competitive and reliable engine.

McLaren paired up with Renault for the 2018 season, but it hasn't been enough for the Woking squad. The team is still far behind the front-runners, which has led Alonso to leave in search of a fresh adventure.

McLaren's CEO Zak Brown says that the team respect his decision and has labelled him a great ambassador for McLaren and F1: “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.

“I know that the entire team joins me in paying tribute to Fernando’s enormous contribution to McLaren; he is a legend both for the championship and for the team. Fernando is an important part of our story and will join an illustrious line of McLaren drivers. On behalf of Shaikh Mohammed, Mansour and our entire board, we wish Fernando every success in the future.”

Alonso added: “I want to thank everyone at McLaren. My heart is with the team forever. I know they will come back stronger and better in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series; that would make me really happy. I have built so many great relationships with many fantastic people at McLaren, and they have given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and race in other categories. I feel I am a more complete driver now than ever."

Fergal Walsh