Alonso doesn't regret quitting improving McLaren

Fernando Alonso says he has no regrets over his decision to quit McLaren and Formula 1, desite seeing the team having made apparent strides in 2019. Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne went backwards through the 2018 campaign, prompting the Spaniard to step away from the grid.

While some expected the once-great British team to again struggle in 2019, Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz in fact look likely to fight for Q3 places all year, with both making it in Bahrain and Norris going on to finish sixth.

"We spent the second half of last year trying to understand the problems with the car and things are now starting to be worth it," Sainz said in Bahrain.

"We are learning, improving the car, and today we are here with the best, which was unthinkable three or four months ago," the Spaniard added.

Alonso was on the grid and pit wall in Bahrain, and this week he will even test for McLaren.

One might be forgiven for thinking the 37-year-old would prefer to be in the cockpit of the improving McLaren car.

View this post on Instagram

Great job by everyone ! Well deserve points 👏🏻👏🏻 @mclaren 👍

A post shared by Fernando Alonso (@fernandoalo_oficial) on Mar 31, 2019 at 11:20am PDT

"You would have to ask Fernando that," said sporting boss Gil de Ferran, a key Alonso ally. "But we are happy to have him with us at the test this week."

Alonso said in Bahrain that he is "happy" that McLaren's new drivers like the 2019 car.

But he told Movistar that he does not regret quitting.

"This year, the decision was to face other challenges," Alonso, who will contest the Indianapolis 500 in search of the Triple Crown, said in Bahrain.

"Last year I left here fourth in the championship. I was fifth in Australia and seventh in Bahrain.

"I have been here for 18 years, so I think to be ninth or tenth again, I'd rather not be here."

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