After 18 years in Formula 1, Fernando Alonso announced his well deserved retirement at the end of the 2018 season, excited to spend time away from the sport.
That time turned out to be 5 days, as Alonso returned to the Paddock on Day 2 of Week 2 of the 2019 season.
“I’m back baby!” Alonso announced on arrival at the Circuit de Catalunya.
“It feels like I never left, and I didn’t” the Spaniard told reporters.
It is unusual to see Alonso struggling to retire at McLaren, after making a habit of it over the last three years.
“But I’ve had the most rejuvenating week” Alonso confirmed, “and now I get to spend my retirement from McLaren at McLaren in a full time capacity”
It’s been confirmed the guy who didn’t want to race for McLaren has signed on as an official McLaren Racing Ambassador.
“For me, it’s a natural fit” Alonso confirmed.
Alonso will help advise McLaren’s drivers and engineers on the development of the 2019 and 2020 cars.
“I love giving calm, constructive feedback” Alonso shouted on the team radio.
The last friendly advice Alonso gave to engineers was to install a rocket into the back of his McLaren and “no more radio for the rest of the race”
That said, the entire team were delighted to see the spaniard back in the traditional dark charcoal-y grey papaya colors.
“We missed Fernando completely” McLaren’s Zak Brown said, “these last 5 days haven’t felt the same without him”
