In a fascinating development for Formula One, Fernando Alonso, one of its biggest stars, will contest the world-famous Indianapolis 500 — at the expense of the world-famous Monaco Grand Prix.
Sporting-political bombshells seldom come bigger, and McLaren’s announcement that it would be releasing its talismanic driver from his F1 duties on the biggest weekend of the year sent the sport into meltdown.
The sporting prospect of the switch is obviously mouth-watering for any motorsport fan.
When once the career of a driver was flexible enough to allow category switching, today it is a rarity. Nico Hülkenberg was the last F1 driver to do so when he sensationally became a winning driver in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015.
Allowing Formula One drivers to compete in other series is not only positive, it should be encouraged. Far from Bernie Ecclestone’s approach to schedule a grand prix on Le Mans weekend — successfully so in 2016, but undone this year after complaints by the affected Azerbaijani hosts — Formula One drivers showing off their skills in new arenas around the world should be embraced as a fantastic advertisement for the sport.
Just as Hülkenberg’s first-time victory should have been paraded as a Formula One driver conquering the world’s most fearsome race on his first attempt, so too should Alonso’s attempt at the Brickyard, where he will surely acquit himself well, be heralded as an example of F1’s best showing the world what’s what.
Tantalising further is the idea of Fernando Alonso becoming the second driver, after Graham Hill, to win motorsport’s ‘triple crown’ — the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans — which is the Spaniard’s stated aim.
“I’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix twice, and it’s one of my ambitions to win the triple crown,” he said in a statement. “It’s a tough challenge, but I’m up for it.
“I don’t know when I’m going to race at Le Mans, but one day I intend to. I’m only 35: I’ve got plenty of time for that.”
So the sporting credentials of such a move speak for themselves — but the political questions of the move are equally compelling.
Why would a Formula One team release its number one driver on the biggest and most sponsor-driven weekend of the year, not to mention the weekend the ailing McLaren team has its best shot at scoring points?
Could it be that McLaren is keeping the man it promised the world sweet in a contract year? Perhaps telling is Alonso’s grin in the announcement video, which is in stark contrast to the stoic grimace worn in the F1 paddock as he faces the McLaren-Honda reality.
With drives at Mercedes, Ferrari, and Renault all opening in 2018, Fernando has all the bargaining power in McLaren-Honda’s quest to keep on the books the driver central to the project.
McLaren might be able to take the front foot by making its own entry powered by a Honda engine and operated by one-time McLaren driver Michael Andretti’s Andretti Autosport, but the questions exist beyond mere reasoning.
For example, who will replace Alonso at what ranks amongst the world’s most difficult circuits?
Would Jenson Button return despite his satisfaction in departure last season? Could McLaren back its Formula Two juniors Nobuharu Matsushita and Nyck de Vries, or would the pressure to perform on F1’s most famous track without the benefit of a full-time drive count against both? There is no easy answer.
Of further intrigue is whether the sport’s new commercial rights holder was kept in the loop that one of its key driving assets would be absent from its most high-profile event.
While Chase Carey, Sean Bratches, and Ross Brawn would no doubt see the aforementioned marketing value in F1 drivers competing abroad, surely skipping a championship round — the so-called jewel in the crown every driver supposedly wants to race in, no less — devalues that particular grand prix.
Perhaps a trickle-down benefit could be greater cooperation between series to ensure the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans don’t clash, thereby allowing drivers the potential to try their hand at all three.
Surely no motorsport fan could be upset with such an outcome, and indeed Alonso’s inclusion in this year’s Indy 500 will be of great interest to all given he was unlikely to play any major role in Monaco with the equipment at his disposal.
Regardless, one must consider exactly what message Alonso’s absence sends on F1’s weekend of weekends.
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Michael Lamonato
Expert
Every F1 car is a hybrid.
woodart
Guest
le mans cars no benefit to the future.... they are a damn sight more forward looking than f1, dont see too many f1 cars with hybrids or diesels. having to buy your ride in f1 makes it as much of a joke series as any other.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I see this as a huge slap in the face for McLaren and F1. It shows how far F1 has fallen over the past decade and how irrelevant McLaren has become. I think it's incredible to not only do this mid-season, but for Monaco of all races. Monaco is on same weekend as the Indy 500 to stop this kind of thing from happening. There's no way McLaren and Liberty Media can be happy in any way about this happening. It puts the Indy 500 on level pegging with the Monaco Grand Prix, when it hasn't been anything close to that for decades. One series is the pinnacle of motorsports engineering with individual teams having budgets in the $500 million range. The other series is effectively a domestic controlled car series that is almost irrelevant outside of the Indy 500 with team budgets in the $10-20 million range. The only winner from this is Honda. I respect what Alonso is doing because this is a guy worth hundreds of millions and he is putting is life and health on the line at Indy. This is a guy that is a pure racer. But there's also something sad about it that he feels he needs this scalp to prove something. Oval racing requires a different set of skills. It's really easy to get into a big accident at 370 km/h racing in close proximity. This is something you should spend a year preparing for, not do it on a whim because you're frustrated with your career. Like I said, full respect to Alonso. You can't question his courage. The bravest guy on the F1 grid. Even more so when you consider how much guys like Hamilton panic and shriek on team radio over minor issues.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Ha, I reckon Monaco will be wet, the top 10 will suffer a massive pile-up at the first turn, and Jenson Button will race Stoffel Vandoodne for the win. That'd be classic Alonso.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Yeah, I think the new commercial rights holders would be open to it — but probably not at the expense of their own sport! Hopefully there'll be fewer clashes in the future. Motorsport working together would be good for everyone. As for F1 in America, that's an interesting one — putting F1 stars immediately before American fans like this would have a huge effect, and it would be a great precursor to another race and ultimately growth. It's a good point, definitely.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
I don't think that's completely fair. Indy has become slightly obscure because it's less open than it once was, as are all motorsport categories. Plus being in America has separated it somewhat from the European motorsport landscape, which means there's little driver crossover, making genuine talent comparisons difficult. LM24 spent years in the wilderness with sportscars, but the WEC formula has given it its sparkle back. F1 fans tend to deride it as a bit of a retirement home, but it's equally, if not more, true that bucket loads of talented drivers who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time to grab one of F1's limited number of seats on merit are now racing there. It's a bit rich after all to say WEC drivers are B grade when often F1 drivers have literally bought their way in. As for Alonso, you're right in saying he's suffering because of his own decisions, but I don't believe this has anything to do with money. He's a real racer interested in winning, not cash — indeed he's said to have offered his services for free to a big F1 team after returning to Renault in 2008.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Between Ron Dennis' departure and Liberty embracing the global spectrum with transparency amongst different categories, you'd hope that it opens the door to the best drivers being available to put themselves in a situation that money can't buy. If this can be reciprocal to F1, that would potentially be even more advantageous than one of its' roster venturing elsewhere. As for Alonso, a weekend away from the lump he's been dealt with is a means to an end and his result at Indy will be an automatic improvement, or as is his luck, McLaren will produce its best outcome since the Honda collaboration recommenced!
woodart
Guest
yes, can only be a good thing for ALL motorsport, not just f1. to win the big three is something special. I think for f1 to succeed in america it has to have a race at indy .
Simoc
Guest
Who cares? It's good for Alonso and for F1. The Indy 500 and Le Mans 24 are way less attractive than they once were. They're essentially meaningless, both using cars with no benefit to the future and really just iconic races where most of the drivers are retired F1 or not fast enough for F1. So B grade racers in formula machinery at famous tracks. If Alonso had another name eg Stroll , he would be totally unnoticed this season. but the whole racing media makes excuses for him. He chose the money all along and Indy may well be another example of his money fascination. But he has a great kart track. Now that is worth going to.
Bugaluggs
Guest
Maybe with the new US owners of F1 there can be a deal to have an open date to allow more Grand Prix drivers to have a crack at Indy like back in the day.