Formula One: Double world champ Alonso to quit at end of season
FERNANDO Alonso has announced that he will leave McLaren and “move on” from Formula One at the end of the season.
Alonso, a two-time world champion, is currently racing in his 17th season in F1 and has promised to finish the 2018 championship with “more commitment and passion than ever”.
The 37-year-old Spaniard says “new exciting challenges are around the corner” and is expected to make a full-time switch to the Indy Car series.
“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” Alonso told the McLaren website.
“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.”
Oviedo-born Alonso started karting from the age of three and won three consecutive karting championships in Spain and became world champion in 1996.
He made his Formula One debut with Minardi in 2001 before moving to Renault as a test driver the following year.
Alonso became the youngest F1 drivers’ world champion in 2005 at the age of 24 years and 58 days and retained the title in 2006.
He spent one season at McLaren and another two at Renault before joining Ferrari in 2010.
Alonso finished second in the world championship standings three times at Ferrari and rejoined McLaren in 2015.