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Fernando Alonso bid farewell to Formula 1 Sunday amidst a fanfare of ring tricks, generous tributes and a handful of penalties imposed by the FIA after the race.
After crossing a guard of honor before the beginning of the season Abu Dhabi Grand PrixAlonso shot his helmet and delivered a hard drive that took him to 11th place on his last outing with McLaren.
Double world champion
It was a metaphor for most of the Spaniard's career: he almost finished in points, just as he almost became the greatest champion of his era and almost won titles with Ferrari .
Despite Renault 's two world titles with Renault, in 2005 and 2006, the 37 – year – old Spaniard leaves behind the feeling that his career in F1 has not been fulfilled and that he' s not the only one. he will inherit as much of his personality as his talent.
He said: "I was very surprised because I ran with great champions.I ran with Michael (Schumacher, seven times champion) and with Jenson Button.
"And, two or three years ago, at the same place, it was his last race and nobody had all the things I received this weekend. can not say enough thanks to everyone. "
However, Alonso has hinted that he could even make a comeback after a break in 2019 in an attempt to win titles in other motor sports.
"For now, I am not thinking of coming back … but I do not know what I will feel next year.I need a break now – in 2019, I need different challenges.
"I want to fight for the" triple crown ", the Indy 500 and other iconic races, maybe Daytona, maybe other things."
Some observers will have smiled by seeing him hit with three penalty points on his license – for cutting the track during his last race – and getting three five-second penalties in the race while he was trying to win a point .
He appreciated the gesture of Lewis Hamilton, winner of the race, and Sebastian Vettel, second, of Ferrari, who gave him space to drive with a synchronized display of donut tricks during the idle lap.
"It was a good turn-based," he laughs. "It was improvised and unplanned, and I saw them making donuts at turn eight and eleven so I caught up with them.
"Then a car was on the left and one on the right, and we continued like that until the finish line, so I'm really grateful for the nice gesture and it was nice to celebrate the checkered flag. "
He also admitted that he had not had time to absorb the magnitude and impact of F1's many messages of praise and good luck.
"Every time I go to my room, I look at my phone and see hundreds and hundreds of messages," he said. "I'm sitting on the chair and someone's knocking on the door to tell me to go out and see a new person.
"So, literally, I did not have the time, I needed a little time for myself to realize what a magical weekend I had."
Alonso leaves the sport with two titles, 32 victories in the race and unbounded admirers for his talent and individuality, spread over 17 seasons of success, bad career decisions and deep disappointments.
Formerly the youngest pole sitter and youngest champion, he was Spain's first great race driver. After his murderous season alongside a Hamilton rookie in 2007, which generated serious strains at McLaren, Alonso returned to Renault.
Hamilton has never lost the respect of his former coaching partner and has often considered him the greatest of his rivals. "Fernando is a legend, it was a privilege to run when he ran," he said on Sunday.
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