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Alonso insists F1 exit isn't down to lack of competitive issues

20:42, 25 Oct 2018

byBobby Vincent

Fernando Alonso has hit back at suggestions that the reason he's quitting Formula One at the end of the season is down to a non-competitive car.

The two-time world champion announced recently that he'd be ending his F1 career, and will be turning his attention to other motorsport events - with IndyCar linked to the Spaniard.

Carlos Sainz Jr., who is replacing Alonso at McLaren; criticised the sport for the reasons that Alonso is retiring is down to the lack of competitiveness but the veteran has insisted the reason is solely his.

"I could have a competitive car. I'm not stopping because I don't have a competitive car," Alonso told Crash. "I've been saying the same thing from August. I'm stopping because I did everything I wanted in F1.

"I arrived in F1, I won grands prix in Formula 1. I drove for McLaren, for Renault, for Ferrari. I have 37 years, and I cannot do more in Formula One."

Alonso was asked if he felt the respect from his fellow drivers in the F1 paddock: "I feel a lot of respect from my team-mates, the other drivers, you guys, the media, the fans. It has been perfect. Again, it's a perfect time to stop, and I feel perfect now.

"When tomorrow or next week, it's a sad thing that I'm leaving, when I had the respect from all the team principals, the teams, I raced for the best manufacturers, I've been paid a lot more than when I was in go-karts thinking what my salary in the the future.

"I have a wonderful life, and I arrive in Mexico, and they give 30,000 faces to the grandstand to say bye-bye. In Abu Dhabi, it will be the same thing.

"I feel so privileged, I feel so happy, so respected around the world, that I can only say thank you. It has been a perfect journey, not a sad journey or a sad end. I know it doesn't matter what I say, because it's what the general opinion wants to think or wants to sell."