Winning a third F1 title is Alonso's priority

Fernando Alonso has admitted that winning a third Formula 1 title remains his priority despite suggestions that he could be set to leave the sport for a new challenge. Alonso competed in the Indy 500 one week ago for the first time but his race ended in retirement with an engine issue.

Alonso hasn't won a world title since 2006 despite driving for three works teams since - McLaren, Renault and Ferrari. He came close in 2007, when he and then rookie teammate Lewis Hamilton missed out on the championship to Kimi Raikkonen by a single point, while he also finished runner-up in 2010, 2012 and 2013 while competing for Ferrari.

His 2015 move back to McLaren was done in the hope of one day competing for a third world title and winning it, however, he hasn't come close due to the struggles of Honda who are supplying McLaren with power units.

"My first priority is Formula 1 and to win my third world championship," he insisted to The Mail On Sunday newspaper this week. "My second priority was to enjoy the experience of Indy 500, and I managed to do that," he added. When he asked how he felt returning back to Formula 1, he said: "I’m happy but for one thing. The only thing missing is being competitive. It is all you can ask for as a driver, and it is frustrating when you do not have that."

"I made each move from one team to another because I felt it was right in my heart," he said. "If you go back 17 or 18 years, I was travelling in my dad’s van to go-kart races in Italy. I could have been working in a supermarket at home in Oviedo. And now I come to America and the people follow me everywhere. I don’t agree with 'What a shame. Alonso should have done this or that.' I have won 97 podiums and two titles. I think I’m doing okay.

Fergal Walsh