Alonso’s Ferrari Departure Questioned as Gracia Claims He Saw Revival Coming
Spanish motorsport chief Carlos Gracia says Fernando Alonso was aware Ferrari’s 2015 Formula One car would be much improved, but left for McLaren regardless.
Carlos Gracia, president of Spain’s motor racing federation, has said Fernando Alonso was aware Ferrari would make a leap forward in 2015 before deciding to leave the team at the end of the previous season. Alonso’s move to McLaren-Honda, after five years with Ferrari, has been widely scrutinised as the Italian squad returned to winning form while McLaren struggled in the midfield.
Gracia’s comments, made to Spanish sports daily Marca ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, push back against the idea that Alonso made a strategic error. He argued that Alonso’s decision was shaped by circumstances beyond technical predictions, suggesting the Spaniard’s story with Ferrari had run its course by the end of 2014. Gracia pointed to the clear improvement in Ferrari’s car, seen in the results of both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, as evidence that the step forward was in machinery rather than personnel.
Alonso’s replacement, Vettel, claimed victory in Malaysia and put Ferrari back into contention at the front of the grid, while Raikkonen also showed better form compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Alonso and McLaren-Honda were still searching for reliability and pace as the European leg of the season began. The contrast has fuelled debate over whether the timing of Alonso’s departure cost him a chance at further wins with Ferrari. Several observers, including former rivals and team-mates, have questioned the wisdom of the move, while others have pointed to the limited options available to Alonso at the time.
Alonso’s outlook at McLaren
Despite the difficult start to 2015, Alonso remained publicly optimistic about McLaren’s development. Ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, he cautioned fans not to expect a podium but said he hoped for progress now that the team and Honda were entering the European phase of the season. The team’s performance continued to be a subject of scrutiny, with Alonso’s patience and commitment under the spotlight as McLaren worked to recover ground lost to rivals.
For further context on Alonso’s challenges at McLaren, see Rosberg: Alonso’s F1 Struggles at McLaren Would Be 'Hard' to Endure.
