In a video tribute to Mark Webber, his mate Fernando Alonso has hinted that he may follow the Australian's footsteps to a post-Formula 1 adventure as an endurance race driver with Porsche.
Alonso said in the tribute to Webber, "You've had a fantastic career and now all your success with Porsche. You didn't wait for me there, it could have been nice but I think you will still be around and I will ask you many things when I join your adventure. A really great man and from my heart all the best."
The comment has sparked a flurry of speculation suggesting the Spaniard may be on his way to WEC at some point in the future.
Alonso has made no secret that he is waiting to sample the new generation Formula 1 cars, that will break cover for pre-season testing in Barcelona early next year, and if he is not excited by the challenge of driving them he will probably call an end to his career at the pinnacle of the sport.
The double F1 world champion has always shown an interest in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and has also been an honorary race starter at Le Mans where he waved the French flag to kick-off the legendary race in 2014.
Former Red Bull driver Webber, who was close to Alonso when they raced together in Formula 1, joined the Porsche sportscar effort in 2014 and was FIA WEC World Champion in 2015 alongside Timo Bernhard and Brendon Hartley.
On 13 October 2016, Webber announced that he would retire from racing at the end of this season in order to take up a representative role with Porsche. His last WEC race was in Bahrain where he finished third with Porsche.
Next year Alonso will be partnered by highly rated Stoffel Vandoorne at McLaren, the young Belgian replacing Jenson Button in the team. The Englishman will be racing in what could be his final grand prix in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
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