Two times world champion Fernando Alonso suspects Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix may be his last real chance of adding to his career points tally before he leaves Formula One at the end of the month.
“I think it’s going to be OK. The circuit is definitely better than Abu Dhabi, the next one, so if we want to score points I think this is the chance for us,” the McLaren driver told reporters on Thursday.
“We have some unsettled weather for Saturday and Sunday so maybe that also gives us other possibilities. I am quite optimistic.”
Now 37, the Spaniard has won the F! championship in 2005 and 2006 titles with Renault at Interlagos, the boisterous and atmospheric Sao Paulo circuit has given him many memories over the years, if no race wins.
They include the infamous ‘sunbathing’ trackside on a marshal’s chair, which sparked the #PlacesAlonsoWouldRatherBe, after he decided to retire from McLaren in 2015 race with yet another Honda engine failure.
Alonso has not been on the podium since he was at Ferrari in 2014 and points have been hard to come by since he joined McLaren in 2015 at the beginning of a failed partnership with Honda.
However things have changed this year, with the much improved Renault engines, Alonso is sitting 10th in the championship having scored 50 of McLaren’s 62 points.
Alonso also a champion of Le Mans 24 Hours champion announced in August that he would be leaving Formula One, but said there is a possibility of a comeback in F1.
He said he will be taking the remaining races with more commitment and passion than ever, as he savours the last moments.
“Counting every minute, trying to enjoy every second,” the winner of 32 grands prix and scorer of 1,899 points over 17 seasons said on Thursday when asked how he was approaching the final stretch.
“It’s the last two grands prix. Obviously you want to do a good job on Sunday, which is the main reason why you’re here, but the rest of the weekend you try to enjoy as well.”
Alonso, is currently also competing with Toyota in the World Endurance Championship that ends at Le Mans next June.
Post F1, he is expected to set his focus on the Indianapolis 500 and completing the so-called ‘Triple Crown of Motorsport’
Photo credit- Reuters India- file photo