Sad day for Fernando Alonso Fans

It's been a difficult couple of years for Fernando Alonso in Formula 1.

Since his move to McLaren in the run up to the 2015 season, he has yet to finish on the podium and has endured yet another frustrating season.

Alonso is a two-time Formula One champion having won back-to-back titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. However, it has been so near yet so far for the Spaniard since then, finishing second three times with Ferrari.

Things have continued to go downhill during his time at McLaren, and with the end of another season approaching, there have been rumours that the 35-year-old sees his future away from the sport.

He sits in 10th place in the championship with just the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to come, having finished 17th last season.

In a video tribute to former F1 driver Mark Webber, who retired from racing at the weekend, Alonso hinted at a future with Porsche.

He had a provisional deal in place to drive for Porsche at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2015, but the move was blocked by Honda, and he was promptly replaced by Nico Hulkenberg, who won the race.

"You've had a fantastic career and now all your success with Porsche," Alonso said.

"You didn't wait for me there, it could have been nice but I think you will still be around and I will ask you many things when I join your adventure. A really great man and from my heart all the best."

 

Alonso, though, has now distanced himself from rumours that he will follow his teammate Jenson Button and leave Formula 1 at the end of the current season.

The two-time World Champion says he will only consider a career away from the sport once he has secured a third title, more than 10 years since his second.

When asked about the possibility of joining Porsche, Alonso replied: "That's something I don't know either.

"It's nothing new what I said in that message, which has become quite famous right now. I'm committed to F1 100 percent next year here with the team, and then in the future, it's no doubt that it's a very attractive challenge, and very attractive thing to do, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, for me.

"I like the category, I like the cars, and as I said, it's a good challenge. But that future, I don't know if it means in two years' time, in five years' time, or in 11 years' time. I don't know yet. It's nothing new.

"The first thing that I want to do, and I will do, is to win a third world championship in F1, and then I see."

The 2016 season comes to an end on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, when Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg go head-to-head in the battle for the title, with Rosberg the firm favourite.