An F1 return in 2021, or will Alonso continue to pursue options elsewhere?

Fernando Alonso has hinted he is unlikely to make a return to Formula 1 in 2021.

Alonso had previously said he would consider an F1 comeback next year with the new regulations due to come into force which are hoped will level the competitive playing field.

But with these changes now on hold until 2022, the two-time F1 Spaniard has offered just enough of a suggestion that he may hold fire.

Speaking in an Instagram Live interview on Le Mans' official account, Alonso said: "It [returning to F1] is something I’ve been answering since 2018 when I did my last race in Abu Dhabi.

“We announced that I was not on the grid in ’19 because I wanted to experience something else like the WEC, Le Mans, Daytona, maybe Dakar one day. That happened this year.

“After 18 years of that routine and pressure on your shoulders, I needed to breathe a little out of that environment.

“I said, ‘Look, in 2021 there are new rules, so I may come’ as it may be more interesting and the cars will be more balanced. Maybe I’m hungry to travel again.

“It’s true that F1 has delayed the rules to ’22, so that’s bad news for the sport because I think they need to balance the cars and have these new rules as soon as possible.

"But it’s a choice that’s understandable because of the current situation as they couldn’t develop the new cars to the full potential.

“So next year, in my personal case, I know more or less what I’m doing and you will know very soon. I can say no more.”

One F1 possibility for Alonso in 2021 is that with Daniel Ricciardo out of contract at Renault at the end of this year, it is possible the Spaniard could favour a move back to the team with which he won both the 2005 and 2006 F1 titles should the Australian move on.

Although Renault has two promising drivers in Christian Lundgaard and Guanyu Zhou competing in F2 in 2020, limited racing across this year could prompt Renault to opt for a safe pair of hands in Alonso in the short-term.

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