Alonso to quit F1 after racing in slow lane

London – Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso (right) announced this week that he will retire from Formula One at the end of the season after his recent struggles with underachieving McLaren.

The 37-year-old Spaniard – who has 32 Grand Prix wins to his credit in 17 seasons – has become increasingly disenchanted with Formula One as the once all-powerful McLaren team have fallen way off the pace.

Alonso, who in 2005 became the youngest yet Formula One world champion while driving for Renault before defending his title the following year, has garnered 44 points this season and is ninth in the drivers’ championship.

Alonso went on to drive for McLaren for a year in 2007 followed by a return to Renault and then four years at Ferrari, before beginning his second spell with McLaren in 2015.

“I have seen [Formula One] changing, sometimes for good, others, in my opinion, for bad,” said Alonso who, on three occasions, finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship while at Ferrari.

“And this year, while still driving at my best, is how I want to remember you.”

Alonso, whose best finish for McLaren so far was 10th in 2016, said he would carry on endeavouring to finish with a flourish.

“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it’s time for me to make a change and move on,” said Alonso in a statement.

“There are still several Grands Prix to go this season and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.”

He left the door slightly ajar, saying in a statement posted on the McLaren website he could return when it is “the right moment for me to be back in the series”, but the personal message on his Twitter account sounded like a farewell.

Alonso, whose first win came in the 2003 Hungarian Grand Prix but who hasn’t won since the Spanish Grand Prix five years ago, says new challenges await.

The former Ferrari star is known to be keen to complete the Triple Crown of world Formula One champions, also winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500. He was won Le Mans.

“Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner,” said Alonso. –