Alonso says 2021 could be “good opportunity” for F1 return

Fernando Alonso says the 2021 regulation shake-up could provide him with a “good opportunity” to return to Formula 1.

The two-time world champion quit F1 at the end of the 2018 season to pursue other challenges in motorsport following an uncompetitive spell towards the back of the grid with McLaren.

Since leaving F1, Alonso has gone on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice and has also become World Endurance Champion at the first attempt, while he is still chasing victory at the Indianapolis 500 to achieve his quest of becoming just the second driver in history to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of motorsport.

Speaking during an appearance with McLaren at the Italian Grand Prix, Alonso said he is “always” in talks about a potential return to F1 but added he does not find the current state of the sport appealing.

“I think first I need to figure out a couple of different challenges out of F1 that I need to complete. They are not yet finished, like the Indy 500 and some other stuff,” Alonso told Sky Sports.

“2021 with the new regulations, I think is a good mix where we can find a different kind of Formula 1 to what we find now.

“I think the reasons why I left F1 last year are still present now, with the domination of a clear team and the races a little bit too predictable, so 2021 there will be some changes and maybe there is a good opportunity there.

"Any other sport is more unpredictable than Formula 1,” he added. “If you see MotoGP, if you see Indy, 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."