F1 without Alonso is "like Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo"

Flavio Briatore believes that Formula One without Fernando Alonso in 2019 will be like Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid have endured a miserable campaign so far this season in La Liga without their star-striker who made the move to Juventus in the summer.

Meanwhile, Alonso will take on a new challenge in his motorsport career, with the Spaniard switching to Indianapolis 500 after retiring from Formula One.

Two-time world champion Alonso won his last race in F1 back in 2013 - after a 2015 switch back to McLaren not going the way he'd have hoped.

Briatore believes that F1 will be left rueing Alonso's retirement, rather than the other way around. 

"F1 without Alonso is like Real Madrid without Cristiano Ronaldo," Briatore explained to Motorlat. "He is one of the few recognisable stars. If you see these guys from here and take off their overalls, I only recognise Lewis, Vettel, Raikkonen and that's it.

"Alonso needs a period of relaxation. He had three very frustrating years in which he behaved impeccably, the performance of the McLaren was ridiculous and he still fought for positions that did not correspond."

McLaren, as well as F1, will have to get over Alonso's retirement - and they will be hoping their two new drivers, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris can adapt to life in the orange car.