Alonso: 2021 overhaul "good opportunity" for possible F1 return
Fernando Alonso says the planned regulation changes for 2021 would make for a "good opportunity" to possibly return to Formula 1
The two-time world champion left F1 at the end of last year and cited the top teams' dominance and the predictability of the races as the main reasons for his decision.
Since then 38-year-old Alonso has focused on endurance racing and the Indianapolis 500, which he failed to qualify for this year.
Alonso is also working with Toyota ahead of a possible assault on the Dakar rally and remains a potential stand-in option for McLaren if either of its current drivers were unable to race.
"I think I need to figure out a couple of different challenges out[side] of Formula 1 that I need to complete," Alonso, who is at Monza with McLaren, told Sky when asked if he could return in 2020.
"They are not yet finished, like the Indy 500 and some other stuff. And 2021 with the new regulations [in F1], I think it is a good mix that we can find there and maybe a different Formula 1 from what we see now.
"I think the reasons why I left Formula 1 last year are still present now, with the domination from one team and the races [being] a little bit too predictable, but in 2021 these things can be changed and maybe it's a good opportunity there."
Alonso said he was "always" in talks with teams about a potential return to grand prix racing, but refused to expand.
- Alonso's 2019 so far
- Could be a McLaren stand-in
- His reaction to Dakar testing
- Still not keen on IndyCar season
- The Indy 500 disaster
While he concedes an overhaul of the rules would make F1 more attractive, he said a 22-race calendar would be the biggest downside.
"Any other sport is more unpredictable than Formula 1. If you see MotoGP, if you see Indy[Car], so I think there still some things [that need changing]...
"I think the new regulations are made for that, to level the field a little bit and to have a bit more options there.
"The only bad thing is the calendar: 22 races is non-stop, it's quite demanding, so let's see. I'm getting old."
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