Fernando Alonso: Bahrain test doesn't mean F1 return

Fernando Alonso

Alonso: Bahrain test doesn't mean F1 return

He'll be at the wheel of the MCL34 next week.

Matthew Scott

Friday 29 March 2019 16:28

Fernando Alonso says it remains his intention to remain 'retired' from Formula 1, despite an impending test run with McLaren in Bahrain next week. Alonso will get his hands on the MCL34 in a Pirelli tyre test the first of his planned test outings this season in a new ambassadorial role.

Although the double world champion stepped away from F1 to target a run at the Indianapolis 500 and the 'Triple Crown', he remains closely associated to McLaren's F1 team.

Although once again hinting that a front-running car could tempt him back, Alonso says his future plans do not currently have a full-time F1 return in them.

"As I said last year, and in Barcelona as well, my idea is not to come back," he said.

"When I said bye bye last year, it was because this chapter is already complete and I achieved in F1 a lot more than what I dreamt of.

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"I had great opportunities outside F1 to do things that are unprecedented, so that is why I took the decision.

"Coming back is not in the plan but if something happened and a great opportunity arrived, I would consider. I don't close doors 100 percent to anything in the future."

Alonso tested Toyota's Dakar Hilux this week, hinting at a future run at the famous off-road race, and the Spaniard says his packed schedule means a lack of F1 means little to him.

VIDEO: Alonso tests Dakar Rally machineryRead more

"Honestly I'm not missing [F1] too much at the moment as I've been very busy," he said.

"Maybe if I was relaxing at home maybe it was different but I have been testing and preparing different things so there is not much time to miss anything.

"I think the team decided this was the best moment and not taking time from the race drivers to develop the car.

"On Pirelli it's more about testing the tyres and maybe [I will] have a little bit of an idea of what the car is doing this year and being involved a little bit from last year in the development in the car is useful for the team so I hope it's a productive test."