F1 veteran Mark Webber sees little chance of Fernando Alonso returning to Formula 1 given the Spaniard's low motivation for racing in the sport's midfield.
Alonso has been linked to the Renault seat that will be vacated by Daniel Ricciardo at the end of the current season, and the French outfit's team boss, Cyril Abiteboul, has labeled the two-time F1 world champion "an option" for 2021.
Sky Sports pundit and former F1 driver Paul di Resta believes Alonso could be a good fit for Renault, the team for which the ex-McLaren driver won both his world titles.
"Fernando Alonso has been there, some people like it, some people don't," said di Resta.
"But if you need somebody with reputation and somebody is going to get momentum and show passion for driving, taking everything else out of it, he might be the right fit.
"Especially given that rules aren't going to change that quickly."
However, Webber doesn't believe a partnership between Alonso and Renault would spur on the Spaniard.
"We know Fernando is extraordinary, had an insane career," Webber said in the latest F1 Nation podcast.
"He’s not at his peak anymore, it will be harder for him to do what he did in the past.
"A Fernando at 9 out of 10 is clearly still good for someone to have. But Alonso is a serial winner and [being stuck in the] mid-pack is what he left F1 for.
"He was determined to say that ‘if I can’t fight the podiums then I don’t want to be in Formula 1’ - that was the last message we had.
"I don’t see an opportunity for podiums for him in terms of a team that can do that for him."
The Aussie therefore sees little point of Alonso returning to the fray next year.
"He’s a racer, he’s missing it a lot, but what’s the focus?" Webber explained.
"Is he going to be loyal to a new regime and sign a two- or three year-contract? Is it just for one [year], and four months in and then the team is looking for someone else? So, what’s the point?
"I’m not saying he couldn’t, but it would be very, very challenging for him to stay motivated for two years, in the middle of the field."
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