Two-time Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso is out of contract for the 2018 season which means he is a free agent.
Given the chances of a race winning seat in F1 are slim at best given the state of the current situation at McLaren and contracts elsewhere on the grid, should Alonso consider taking his career to the IndyCar for 2018 and beyond?
In recent weeks rumours across the paddock have been linking the Spaniard to Renault, the team which he won his two titles with and who he has spent two stints with, the second being after falling out with McLaren and Lewis Hamilton in spectacular style in 2007.
Having been consistently been clear in his comments that he seeks a winning car for next season, Alain Prost, who is a senior advisor at the Enstone based team, has stated they won’t be able to offer Alonso that possibility of winning in 2018, so where does that leave him?
After three disappointing seasons with McLaren-Honda, staying with the team is now an unlikely option, he has given them enough time to find performance within the project and is yet to see any positive results on the horizon going forward.
With Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas all technically out of contract at Ferrari and Mercedes respectively, there is room to potentially make a move for those teams, but with Ferrari now fighting for the world championship with arguably the best car on the grid, would Vettel be willing to move now? Not a chance.
Raikkonen could vacate the team leaving a spot open, but would the Scuderia be willing to upset the balance of the team for their new found star? Again unlikely.
The problem would now lie at Mercedes, while Bottas has a one-year deal, his current performances would be making the team very happy, but the biggest hurdle would be Hamilton. Could they ever be apart of the same outfit again? Despite their new found respect for each other since their 2007 dispute, that possibility would still be most likely out of the question.
Would McLaren like to keep hold of Alonso? Absolutely. The team know his qualities despite his Latin temperament and would want his valuable feedback to continue the development of the team, but the Spaniard wants to win and fight for victories on a regular basis like he knows he can do.
Given that Alonso has decided to take on the triple crown and take on the challenge of the Indianapolis 500 for the first time, missing the Monaco Grand Prix as a result due to the schedule clash.
Qualifying in fifth place for the event at the first attempt has been regarded as an incredible feat, adding to the performance he gave through the race before in a cruel twist of fate, his Honda engine blew up with just 21 laps to go. Alonso will be very well aware that it is possible for him to win the race should he attempt it again.
With the lack of competition within F1 and the current machinery given to him by McLaren-Honda, the Spaniard must be torn apart inside with wanting to win a third world title or competing elsewhere for the need to compete in a winning position.
Should Alonso make the move permanent to the series, the likes of Scott Dixon, Will Power, Helio Castroneves and the rest of the drivers in the Indycar field would be all watering at the mouth to challenge the double F1 world champion.
It is a tough decision to take as F1 has been Alonso’s life since he joined Minardi in 2001, however, Is it now time to turn a page on his career in the sport and continue the Indycar chapter of his career in order to still be in a competitive car?
The evidence would suggest that could be the case.
Decisions will soon have to be made by the Spaniard as he looks towards clinching that triple crown, but more importantly to find that competitive, winning feeling once again.
