Formula 1: Fernando Alonso 2021 return already out of the question?

Fernando Alonso has not shut the door on returning to Formula 1 in the 2021 season. But the door may have already shut on him.

Amid rumors that he may not truly done competing in Formula 1, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso made it official at the end of the 2019 season, his first season since retiring from the sport, that he would consider returning in 2021.

The 38-year-old Spaniard is on record saying that he would not return, however, unless he could drive for a competitive team, and only three teams (Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing) have won any of the 139 races that have been contested since the 2013 season opener.

Former driver David Coulthard believes that this effectively eliminates the possibility of him returning, as he simply doesn’t see any of these teams being interested in him.

Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to F1i.

"“I know he wants to come back, but I don’t think he has a choice. I don’t think Mercedes needs him or wants him. I don’t think Ferrari needs him or wants him. I don’t think Red Bull needs him or wants him. Where’s he going to go? Back to McLaren?”"

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McLaren did make good gains in the 2019 season, their first season without him since 2014 (and ironically their best season since 2014), en route to a “best of the rest” fourth place finish in the constructor standings.

But they officially cut ties with him last month, and their driver lineup of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr. proved to be a great combination on multiple levels in 2019, from overall competition to straight-up camaraderie. Both drivers have options in place to return in 2021 anyway.

Additionally, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has ruled out the possibility of bringing him back. Here is what he had to say about the matter, according to The Guardian.

"“No. We are in a different place now. That’s not a reflection on him, we have two great young drivers who are really fast that are working well together. The fans like them and we have a rhythm now and would not want to disturb that.”"

When the 2021 season rolls around, Alonso will be 39 years old, which would make him the second oldest driver on the grid behind Kimi Raikkonen, assuming Raikkonen, who is slated to become the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history this year, doesn’t retire once his contract expires following the 2020 season.

Ferrari already have Charles Leclerc under contract through the 2024 season, and they have made clear that their goal is to bring back four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel for at least another year.

Red Bull Racing already have Max Verstappen under contract through the 2023 season, and they have made clear that they are not actively pursuing any drivers outside of the Red Bull organization to pair with him. Alexander Albon is slated to be his teammate in 2020 after replacing Pierre Gasly with nine races remaining in the 2019 season.

The Alonso to Red Bull Racing rumors have run amok over the last few years, but nothing has ever come of them, and there have quite frequently been two different sides to the rumors regarding whether or not there is actually any interest from either party.

As for Mercedes, nothing is confirmed for the 2021 season. But Lewis Hamilton has been tipped to return, and as long as Valtteri Bottas continues to serve as a good number two driver and teammate who is capable of winning races of his own, they have no reason not to keep their driver lineup as is.

Team principal and CEO Toto Wolff even hinted that Bottas’s future with the team could extend beyond 2020, although nothing is official.

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Will Fernando Alonso ever get another opportunity to compete in Formula 1, or will David Coulthard’s claim prove true? More than likely, the latter will be the case.

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