Outgoing McLaren driver Fernando Alonso is not ruling out a full-time return to Formula 1 for 2019.

Disenchanted with the category, the double world champion is retiring after this weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP and will tackle Le Mans and the Indy 500 next year.

‘Maybe 2019 is not the right time’

But he told international media at the WEC sports car race in Shanghai last weekend that he might be back.

That is despite the fact that he is not interested in racing full-time in Indycar in 2019.

“17 races in America, with everything I would have to learn, maybe 2019 is not the right time,” he said.

“I need to recharge my batteries, but by 2020 the Indycar season could be a possibility, just like a full season in F1 or another championship,” Alonso added.

‘It is possible, yes’

Alonso hinted that he could be busier than contesting just the Indy 500 and Le Mans next year.

“It is possible. Yes, there will be a couple of challenges apart from the Indianapolis 500. We will announce it next year, or maybe it will be a Christmas present,” he smiled.

One of them could be Daytona.

“I will study the calendar and see what is possible, but after leaving F1 I will have more time but I also want to think about having more free time,” he said.

The Spaniard will be contesting his final F1 race in Abu Dhabi this weekend before hanging up his boots. He leave behind several memories among his peers as an all-round fighter and someone who never gives up.

If you give him any car, he will wrangle out every inch of pace from that car. Even in the McLaren Renault car, he is trying his best to battle up the order. We can be certain that he will be fighting every inch of the way in Abu Dhabi because he has nothing to lose.