Fernando Alonso admits the amount of fanfare and tributes he’s received in Abu Dhabi has been a surprise as he ends his 17-year Formula 1 career.
The Spaniard raced with a special livery on his McLaren car, had the drivers briefing room decorated in his honour, was awarded ‘driver of the day’ and completed donuts with Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel as part of the celebration.
Speaking on Sunday though, the double world champion, while thankful, conceded it was all a bit much.
“I was very surprised because I have raced with great champions,” he told Sky Sports.
“I raced with Michael [Schumacher], raced with Jenson Button. Two or three years ago in the same place, it was his last race and no one had all the things that I have received this weekend, so I cannot say thanks enough to everyone.”
Sadly, the result wasn’t the points he was “dreaming” of post-qualifying as he finished 11th, even picking up two penalties as he rather mischievously tried to close on Kevin Magnussen in the final laps.
The biggest question going forward is whether Abu Dhabi was a goodbye for now or a fond farewell with mixed signals on whether Alonso plans to return.
“Right now I’m not thinking to come back, that’s for sure,” he said. “But I don’t know how I’ll feel next year. I think I need the break now, 2019 I need different challenges.
“I want to fight for the Triple Crown, the Indy 500 and other iconic races – maybe Daytona, maybe other things that will come,” he added.
“But for 2020, maybe I’ll feel the need to do a full calendar in something: maybe IndyCar, maybe F1, I don’t know. Maybe that’s the time to come back or maybe I’ll enjoy so much next year that I won’t come back.”
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The 37-year-old looked back with happiness, however, on what he has achieved.
“Well it is going to be a good memory, you know,” he admitted. “The whole package of Formula 1 was a fantastic journey from a very young age to now.
“Fighting always in any circumstances, in any car, and I think, achieving a lot of success that I never expected.
“I came from a country with no tradition, you know, my father was not a racing driver so it was all by surprise and it was all welcome.
“So happy for that, happy to keep even the last weekend very emotional, with all the things F1 prepared for me and also my team.”