Formula 1: Fernando Alonso to retire from F1 after 2018 season

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso has announced that he will retire from Formula 1 following the conclusion of the 2018 season.

Two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso is currently in his 17th season as a Formula 1 driver, and it is set to be his final season in the sport. He announced Tuesday that he will be retiring from Formula 1 after the 2018 season reaches its conclusion, confirming what has been speculated for several months.

The 37-year-old Spaniard began driving in Formula 1 in the 2001 season, and the only season since then during which he did not drive in the sport is the 2002 season.

Here is what Alonso had to say about his impending retirement, according to the BBC.

"“After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport it’s time for me to make a change and move on. I made this decision some months ago and it was a firm one. There are still several grands prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.“Let’s see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner. I’m having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to go on exploring new adventures.”"

Alonso began his Formula 1 career in the 2001 season driving for Minardi. After test driving for Renault in the 2002 season, he drove for the team from the 2003 season through the 2006 season. He won his two Formula 1 championships in the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

In the 2007 season, Alonso drove for McLaren for the first time in his career before returning to Renault in the 2008 season. He continued driving for Renault in the 2009 season before making the switch to Scuderia Ferrari in the 2010 season.

Alonso continued driving for Scuderia Ferrari through the 2014 season before returning to McLaren in the 2015 season. He has driven for McLaren ever since.

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Throughout his Formula 1 career, Alonso has competed in 303 races. Along with winning his two championships, he has earned 32 race victories, 97 podium finishes and 22 pole positions. His win and podium finish totals rank sixth on their respective all-time lists.

Alonso recorded a career-high seven victories and six pole positions in both of his championships seasons back in 2005 and 2006, and he recorded a career-high 15 podium finishes in the first of those two seasons. In addition to his two championships, he also finished in second place in the championship standings three times. All three seasons in which he did so, the 2010, 2012 and 2013 seasons, he did so driving for Ferrari.

As to whether or not Alonso will return to the Indianapolis 500 or become a full-time IndyCar driver next season, which is what any people still expect that he will do, he has not ruled either of these possibilities out.

But while Alonso has not officially retired from his career as a professional race car driver, nothing as far as IndyCar goes has been confirmed at this point even though he did say that “exciting challenges are around the corner” and he needs to “go on exploring new adventures”.

Do you believe that Fernando Alonso will return to the Indianapolis 500 or become a full-time IndyCar driver next season now that it has been confirmed that he will not be returning to Formula 1? While many fans thought today would be the day on which Alonso announced his future plans as far a IndyCar is concerned, it looks like there will be even more waiting.