Fernando Alonso considered quitting F1 for triple crown in 2017
McLaren driver Fernando Alonso considered quitting Formula 1 at the end of 2017 to pursue his dream of winning motorsport's unofficial triple crown
In an exclusive interview for the latest issue of F1 Racing magazine, on sale on Thursday, Alonso reveals he thought about ending his grand prix career to try to add Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans 24 Hours victories to his two Monaco GP wins.
Alonso contested the Indy 500 last year and will combine his 2018 F1 programme with a Toyota World Endurance Championship campaign that will include his Le Mans debut.
"Yes, I did think about the possibility of changing series and stopping Formula 1," he told F1 Racing.
"After I did the Indy 500 last year, when I came back there were a couple of races in Austria, Silverstone, when I thought, 'Maybe next year I could try a different series; I could do full commitment to the triple crown and do Indy and Le Mans and maybe that's the best thing'.
"But I felt it was not the time for me to step out - not right now, not after these results, not with this feeling," he said.
"I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life and that I would have this bad taste for the rest of my racing career.
"So definitely I still want to succeed. There is unfinished business for me and McLaren together.
"And I think this year is the time all these things will change. I feel pretty sure about that."
Alonso skipped the Monaco GP to race at Indy last year as McLaren sought to keep its star driver motivated during a dismal third season with Honda engines.
McLaren has now switched to Renault power for 2018, and Alonso hopes he can move away from racing "with no hope".
He described "a bad year for McLaren is third or fourth in the constructors' championship, never ninth" - where McLaren finished in 2015 and '17.
Asked if he hoped the coming season would be a "normal" one, Alonso replied: "Yes - back to normality, back to this normal feeling of getting to every grand prix and preparing through practice and qualifying and knowing that you should be in the top five - and if you do well you could be on the podium.
"And if you do something really special, you could even be a winner.
"That motivation and that preparation have been the things I've missed.
"But these are things that I hope to have this year. That's the biggest expectation."
Formula 1 teams' first tyre choices of 2018 revealed by Pirelli
McLaren F1 stars' final Honda hurrah
Archive: When Davidson was "too successful" to land an F1 seat
Archive: When Davidson was "too successful" to land an F1 seat Archive: When Davidson was "too successful" to land an F1 seat
From the archive: When a BMW tin-top ace sampled F1
From the archive: When a BMW tin-top ace sampled F1 From the archive: When a BMW tin-top ace sampled F1
Why the German giants are flocking to FE
Why the German giants are flocking to FE Why the German giants are flocking to FE
Aston Martin explains extent of damage to Alonso's F1 floor
Aston Martin explains extent of damage to Alonso's F1 floor Aston Martin explains extent of damage to Alonso's F1 floor
Alonso says P2 on F1 Spanish GP grid possible even with floor damage
Alonso says P2 on F1 Spanish GP grid possible even with floor damage Alonso says P2 on F1 Spanish GP grid possible even with floor damage
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
Le Mans 24 Hours: Calado puts Ferrari top in final practice session
Le Mans 24 Hours: Calado puts Ferrari top in final practice session Le Mans 24 Hours: Calado puts Ferrari top in final practice session
Ferrari didn’t expect lap time for Le Mans 24 Hours pole
Ferrari didn’t expect lap time for Le Mans 24 Hours pole Ferrari didn’t expect lap time for Le Mans 24 Hours pole
United has to "do something clever" to recover from tough Le Mans qualifying
United has to "do something clever" to recover from tough Le Mans qualifying United has to "do something clever" to recover from tough Le Mans qualifying
Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari locks out front row, Cadillac suffers fire
Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari locks out front row, Cadillac suffers fire Le Mans 24 Hours: Ferrari locks out front row, Cadillac suffers fire
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about Why the end of F1’s design divergence is nothing to be sad about
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.