F1 News: Fernando Alonso Gets Emotional Ahead Of Final Grand Prix Outing

Fernando Alonso is getting emotional ahead of his final Formula 1 race at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Nov. 25. The Spaniard announced he will leave the sport after the 2018 season in August.

The McLaren driver won two F1 Drivers’ world championships with Renault in 2005 and 2006 but has failed to add more in the next 12 seasons. He came close to adding to his tally during his first stint with McLaren in 2007 and during his four years with Ferrari between 2010 and 2014.

But it was not to be and it has been blamed for the Spanish racer’s poor decisions outside the cockpit. He left Ferrari in 2014 to rejoin McLaren in the hope of getting back to winning ways, but the last four years have probably been the worst of his career. He has spent most of the time fighting at the back of the grid.

The Woking-based team’s switch to Honda failed miserably and after three years with the Japanese manufacturer they switched to Renault for the 2018 season, but the results have failed to improve. Alonso finally decided his time in F1 has come to an end, but made it clear he was leaving not because he could not land a competitive drive, but because he had achieved everything he wanted.

Alonso will be driving in the World Endurance Championships in 2019 and recently confirmed he will take part in the Indy 500 race with McLaren as he continues to chase motorsport’s fabled Triple Crown. Alonso is also said to be in talks with Formula E executives about a potential drive in the single-seater electric car championship.

The 37-year-old has been in F1 for 17 seasons and is still regarded as one of the best drivers on the grid. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be his last in the sport and despite Alonso hinting he could return in 2020, it is unlikely to happen as all the top teams are moving forward by employing young upcoming drivers.

The Spaniard has not had a good end to his career and his last three races have also not gone according to plan. The races in United States and Mexico saw him retire within the first three laps owing to no fault of his.

In the most recent race in Brazil, a poor strategic decision by the team cost him a potential point scoring finish and he had to settle for a 17th place finish. Coming to possibly the final F1 race of his career Alonso revealed that his finishing position is not his concern, but the emotion of driving in his final race.

“The positions will be where they will be…” Alonso said after the Brazilian Grand Prix, as quoted on Grand Prix 247. “We know Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull will be in the top six, and then Haas and Force India will be in the remaining top 10. Then will be Renault, Toro Rosso, McLaren, Williams in that mid-pack.”

“So we try to enjoy. The results will be not very important – it is more the emotional part of Abu Dhabi, what I am looking forward to,” the double world champion added.