Alonso ‘motivated to attack’ final races in F1
Fernando Alonso says he is feeling “motivated and ready to attack” the final nine races of the season before he leaves Formula 1 at the end of 2018.
The McLaren driver added to a summer of shock F1 announcements by confirming he would quit the sport at the end of the current campaign in his pursuit of other challengers, including his quest to complete motorsport’s unofficial ‘Triple Crown’.
Fernando Alonso says he is feeling “motivated and ready to attack” the final nine races of the season before he leaves Formula 1 at the end of 2018.
The McLaren driver added to a summer of shock F1 announcements by confirming he would quit the sport at the end of the current campaign in his pursuit of other challengers, including his quest to complete motorsport’s unofficial ‘Triple Crown’.
But Alonso – who claimed victory on the road at the Six Hours of Silverstone last weekend before his Toyota entry was disqualified for a rule infringement – insists he has not let his focus slip on the remainder of the current F1 season. The Spaniard will hand over his MCL33 to McLaren protégé Lando Norris during opening practice for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
“We still have a lot of work to do and I’m really looking forward to being back in the car from FP2,” Alonso said.
“Although I’ve raced more recently that anyone else on the grid, at Silverstone in WEC last weekend, I still can’t wait to get behind the wheel at Spa. It’s one of the best circuits on the calendar and usually a lot of fun.
“Spa is the longest track we race on and a lot of it is at full throttle, so it will be a challenging weekend for us,” he added. “But, I feel fresh, motivated and ready to attack the weekend and the second half of the season.”
Under-pressure teammate Stoffel Vandoorne, who is understood to be vying with Norris to secure the second seat at McLaren alongside 2019 recruit Carlos Sainz, is looking to bounce back from a disappointing Hungarian Grand Prix retirement at his home race.
“Although the DNF was hugely disappointing in Hungary, I had a much more positive feeling in the car and my main objective is to carry this momentum forward to Spa and these back-to-back races,” Vandoorne explained.
“Spa is also my favourite track – as it is for many other drivers – and I’ve raced there all through my junior career, so it feels like a second home for me and I hope we can put on a good show for the Belgian fans.”
