Vettel hints at future Alonso battles

Sebastian Vettel hinted that he could follow Fernando Alonso to pursue series outside of Formula 1 after hailing the departing Spaniard following Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Two-time Alonso closed the book on his Formula 1 career for the time being at least in Yas Marina.

Alonso joined Vettel and race-winner Lewis Hamilton for a post-race celebration which included a few donuts and kind words from 2018's title rivals to the McLaren man.

Vettel beat Alonso to the championship in thrilling battles in both 2010 and 2012 and hinted that he could follow the lead of his former rival, who has collected the Le Mans 24 Hours this year as he seeks the 'Triple Crown', which will take him back to the Indy 500 next year.

"I think no one was ever in doubt of his talent and skills," Vettel said of Alonso. "It will be interesting to see what he's up to in the next years.

#AbuDhabiGP ends with a solid P2 for #Seb5 and a DNF for #Kimi7. We gave it all, thanks to the team #ForzaFerrari pic.twitter.com/KTmsbYMLYC — Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) November 25, 2018

"Maybe one or more of us will join him in whatever he does in the future, we'll see. We're all getting a bit older. But for now I think we're quite happy here so he can go ahead and try first."

Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton gave the Yas Marina fans a show after the chequered flag fell, but the Ferrari man revealed that crossed wires almost made for a farcical moment.

"Obviously Lewis won the race, it's Lewis's year so I think even if it's tough, you need to accept that," said Vettel.

"I was trying to gesticulate inside the car well done to him. I was asking him 'let's do some donuts together'. I'm not sure he understood because, in turn eight, I nearly ran him off the road!

"But then on the finish line I think we had the same thought and it was nice when Fernando joined as well, his last race, especially when it's been a tough time for him."

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