Alonso agrees to talk with McLaren first

Executive Director of McLaren Zak Brown has said that Fernando Alonso has agreed to not talk with any other teams for a 2018 seat until he has held discussions with his current team McLaren.

Brown said that the agreement was made this week in Shanghai after a meeting with Brown himself, Eric Boullier, Alonso and the Spaniard's manager Luis Garcia Abad.

Alonso has been vocally frustrated by McLaren, as he expected them to be semi-competitive in the field this year, the third since McLaren and Honda reunited. The 35-year-old has been linked to seat at Mercedes and Ferrari for next season as his contract runs out at the end of this year.

"We have agreed to speak in the summer," Brown is quoted by the Spanish sports daily Marca. "We agreed this even before the preseason began. He just wants to win races, it's the only thing for him, and we want him to continue.

"I don't know if he has any offers - I don't check his cell phone - but we have an agreement that he's not going to commit to anyone until we have our talks," Brown added.

Fergal Walsh