Formula 1 commercial boss Sean Bratches wants Fernando Alonso to remain in the sport as an ambassador.

Alonso, a two-time champion and current McLaren driver, is quitting at the end of the year, declaring that, "When the talking is more about politics and bad radio messages, I think there are other things that give me more action and happiness."

Alonso is said to be considering a full-time switch to the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2019. He is also committed to the World Endurance Championship with Toyota at least through the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Bratches, Liberty Media's F1 commercial chief, said he is disappointed that Alonso is turning his back on Formula 1. Alonso has raced in Formula 1 since 2001.

"I hope that we can keep him as an ambassador so that he can help to bring this great sport forward," Bratches told the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. "I had hoped he would be here for 10 years more. He's a hero and a legend, and he's meant so much to the sport."

Bratches did say, however, that Alonso has a point about how predictable F1 has become.

"Alonso is right," Bratches said. "But there is certainly a chance now to make the sport less predictable, and we are going to work on that."

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