Alonso admits he’s tempted by other racing categories

Fernando Alonso has admitted that he is tempted to turn his back on Formula 1 and look to other categories of motorsport, such as Le Mans, as he is becoming disenchanted with the sport in its present form.

The Spaniard is enduring his worst ever season after joining McLaren-Honda, having scored a single point in nine races, but he suggested his waning interest in F1 stretches further than the uncompetitive state of his tean.

“I love motorsport, all the categories, and it is true that F1 is not exactly the same, or as exciting as it was in the past – at least to me, to drive the cars two or three seconds faster than a GP2 car,” he said on Saturday.

“Right now, there is huge motivation and a fantastic project that I am in right now with McLaren-Honda. My first go-kart was a McLaren-Honda replica and I am in a real McLaren-Honda, so I am enjoying this process of getting competitive starting from zero.

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“But with no testing, with these tyres, with these limitations, with the calendar for example next year, there is the temptation [for doing] other categories, that is true.”

Speaking about qualifying in Hungary, which saw Alonso push his stricken McLaren back to the pits, he said he was unaware of the rule which states that a car must return to the pits under its own power.

“I love my sport you know,” he added. “It doesn’t matter if you are last, or if you are 15th or if you are in pole position, you want to drive the car and you want to enjoy it out there.

“But I understood when I arrived in the garage that it was not possible with the regulations, the car needs to arrive by itself with engine on. I didn’t know that, if I did I probably park the car before.”