With two world championships under his belt, Fernando Alonso has nothing left to prove. At this point in his career, he says he wants to have fun. And the current regulations, says the Spaniard, have taken all the fun out of F1.
That could be about to change as the series prepares to introduce a new set of regulations for next season. The 2017 rulebook calls for increased aerodynamic and mechanical grip, with wider wings and tires, that are earmarked to cut four to five seconds off lap times.
The changes ought to give teams like McLaren, which has been struggling under the current regulations, a fresh start and an even playing field. But they could also bring back some of the excitement that Alonso misses from earlier in his career.
If they don’t, however, Motorsport.com reports that the champ could look elsewhere. At 35, he says, he’s not looking to retire, but he could switch to a different racing series that would offer more excitement. Currently contracted until the end of next season, Alonso didn’t specify where he might go, but he’s been closely linked in the past to drive at Le Mans and the associated FIA World Endurance Championship.
His past and present teammates Felipe Massa and Jenson Button are both leaving next season and are currently evaluating prospects in other racing series, including Japan’s Super GT, Germany’s DTM, and Formula E. Born in 1981, Alonso is one of the oldest drivers on the grid – second only to Kimi Raikkonen (born 1979) now that Button and Massa are out of the picture.
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