The news that Fernando Alonso is leaving Formula 1, which came in the middle of the summer break, is no great surprise.
The 37-year-old Spanish driver, who has had 17 seasons in Formula 1, had only one choice left – McLaren. And he didn’t want to go on racing for the team. He felt it would be time wasted. He’s probably right in that respect, because there is a lot of work needed to get McLaren back to the front of the F1 pack and the team has been holding itself back in recent times with its nonsensical management structure. It might work in theory, in big companies, but racing teams are all about speed and accountability. You need people to be responsible for their sphere of influence and to have to answer to a boss.
Alonso clearly had no chance back at Ferrari, where he raced between 2010 and 2014, scoring 11 of his 32 victories. Red Bull was not interested, nor was Mercedes. Renault might have talked to him, but it’s building for the future and Fernando is too old to be part of that plan. And it’s hard to see why he would go anywhere else. The key point in all of this is that Alonso has a reputation for not being a team player, and for making the wrong choices when it comes to his future. At the start of his career, he was guided in a sensible fashion, spending a year learning at Minardi and then moving into the Renault factory team for the next five seasons – during which time he won his two World Championships, and won 15 races.
This story is from the September 2018 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2018 edition of autoX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
POWER WASH
The Dylect UltraClean high-pressure washer is perfect choice for those obsessed with keeping their vehicle showroom fresh.
GRIPPING REPORT
After experiencing TVS Eurogrip Roadhound's performance on the race track, we put them through their paces on the road.
MAKE OR BREAK!
Carlos Sainz ended Max Verstappen's win streak yet again. The driver without a seat in 2025 is giving it his all and then some!
NEW DAWN
What does Liberty Media's MotoGP takeover mean for the sport's future?
FOCUS MODE
BMW has introduced a more aggressive avatar of the iX, and we test its temper.
BRAVE & BOLD
If you like the idea of making others feel intimidated as your car appears in their rearview mirror, look no further.
SINGLE NOT READY TO Mingle?
Volvo has introduced the XC40 with a single-motor setup. But does this mean that it's only half the fun and half the experience? Let's find out...
URBAN RACER
Expanding its performance portfolio, Hyundai has launched the new Creta N Line. So, is this the hot sauce needed for the perfect Creta sandwich? We take a bite and find out!
The Price of Nostalgia
Kawasaki's W175 is a low-cost motorcycle that evokes the nostalgia of no-nonsense riding, but does it offer enough to be relevant in the modern world?
easy DOES IT
Getting a motorcycle right is complicated, because motorcyclists themselves are complicated. But the Jawa 350 might have cracked the code.