Alonso leaves Formula One door open

Abu Dhabi - Spaniard hinted that there could be a possibility of him making a return

The Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will see double world champion Fernando Alonso bring the curtains down on an illustrious 17-year career in the sport but the Spaniard hinted that there could be a possibility of him making a return.
Alonso, who won back-to-back world championships in 2005 and 2006, will bid adieu after the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit this weekend, to focus on the 'Triple Crown,' but the 37-year-old said that a comeback was not out of question.
"So far, I think it is a normal weekend. On Saturday, things will be different. I guess I will be more emotional. I guess it is going to be special and emotional and hopefully a good one," Alonso said on Thursday, about his farewell race.
"Right now, it is difficult to think about coming back but the door is not closed. The first thing is I don't know how I will feel next year, whether I will be doing this for my whole life. So, maybe next year by April or May, I'm desperate and maybe I will find a way somehow to come back. It is more about myself. If I come back, it is not for any particular reason or that something has to happen. It is more about how I feel in the middle of next year," he added.
Alonso elaborated that his future remains uncertain and his immediate attention was on winning the 'Triple Crown.'
"I don't know what the future will bring. Definitely, I'm concentrating on personal challenges and the Triple Crown and some of the races that I will add next year. For 2020, I don't know exactly what I will do. Further away, it is impossible to think. Life is long and beautiful and I like Formula One and will always love Formula One. So, if I will be here in the future, as a driver, as a father, as a FIA boss, who knows," said Alonso, who began his career with Minardi and went on to race for Renault and Ferrari.
The Indy 500, the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans represents the 'Triple Crown' and Alonso has won two of them - the Monaco GP and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Asked about his most memorable moments, the McLaren driver said: "I think more than races or memories or victories, I think I have had during my time in F1 is the people that I have worked with, the people with whom I've shared half of my life. I'm 37 and I've raced for 17 years, so, it is half of my life with fantastic engineers, designers, mechanics, you guys the media, we have shared a lot of things during the seasons. And that's what I will always remember from Formula One. How you approach races, the philosophy behind a Grand Prix, the preparation, the discipline, the team, and when you come through different racing series, you realise that Formula One is a step higher and you try to find perfection every weekend. So, these are the best memories that I've had."
Alonso also revealed that seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was the best he had raced against.
"It is difficult to choose one. Obviously, if you have to say one it will be Michael (Schumacher). Not because of any particular reason. Just because when I got to Formula One, Michael was dominating the sport. You race in go karts and you see Michael winning, you are in different categories, you see Michael winning and eventually you find yourself fighting with him. So, those battles were definitely special and emotional at that time. It was a good journey and if I had to choose one it will be Michael but just for emotional reasons, not for any technical aspects," he said.
james@khaleejtimes.com