Alonso: Winning a third F1 title would be the greatest joy

With McLaren dropping the ball from the moment Alonso rejoined the team in 2015, thanks to the team's failed partnership with Honda and subsequent mess that was 2018, and with no end in sight to the misery, the Spaniard opted to quit F1 to focus on other endeavours.

Alonso told Corriere Della Sera, "I've always said hasta luego [see you later] to F1. Now I have a new challenge to face with the right tools to win again, while in F1 there were no conditions to do the same."

"I have no plans for 2020. Of course, winning a third F1 title would be the greatest joy," added Alonso who won back to back championships in 2005 and 2006, but has not celebrated on and F1 podium since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Despite an influx of highly talented young drivers in the top flight in 2019, a host of young guns are knocking on the door, but the 37-year-old is adamant that age is not a factor, "Schumacher raced [in F1] until he was 43 years."

"If you feel strong you do not need to look at your expiry date. You can race until you realize that someone is better than you, but that is something that can happen at 25 as much as at 48. Age has nothing to do with it."

Nevertheless, For the first time in nearly two decades, Alonso will not be on the Formula 1 grid for the season opener in Australia. He will not even be there as a spectator or to assist McLaren with their all-new driver line-up of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris.

Alonso explained, "My diary says I'll be flying right in those hours, returning from Sebring [World Endurance Championship round with Toyota Gazoo Racing]. However, I will follow every stage because my true love remains that way. In the endurance races I'm seen as a loan driver, it's a question of belonging."

Although Alonso is universally accepted as one of the greatest drivers of this generation, he also has the reputation for being his own worst enemy.

But clearly he has few regrets, "I don't look back. I feel very lucky, I know talented drivers that have never driven in F1, they have not had opportunities they deserved or they had problems to find money."

As for his F1 career that included 312 Grand Prix starts, he said, "Could it be better? Maybe. Bad luck? Sometimes. I drove for uncompetitive teams and I made some mistakes. For example, leaving McLaren in 2007 or thinking that Honda could compete better.

"I raced with Ferrari and Ferrari means the maximum. I left them but since then our paths have been similar, we could not win the title together and they have also not won it without me."

Apart from his sportscar adventures this year, Alonso will also tackle the fabled Indianapolis 500.

After impressing in 2017, mixing it at the front for most of the race and even leading until his Honda expired when it mattered, he will spearhead McLaren's effort at the legendary 500-mile race in May.

"I will try again this year. It's a roulette: luck, setbacks, accidents. Many won when they thought they were going to lose and vice versa. We need time and patience," added Alonso who needs to win at the Brickyard, to join Graham Hill as a winner of the elusive Triple Crown of Motorsport.