Alonso open to team switch for 2018

Amid the struggle that McLaren-Honda are going through, double world champion Fernando Alonso admits that he will not wait long for the Japanese manufacturer to sort out their issues.

Honda have struggled massively this season so far, as they have designed a slow and unreliable engine to the vocal disgruntlement of Fernando Alonso. The 35 year old recognises that he is near the end of his career, and is not willing to wait to long for improvemnts.

"Maybe I'm towards the end of my F1 career," Spain's El Mundo Deportivo quotes him as saying. "I'm 35 years old so I'm sure I have less time to race than I have already raced. How much am I willing to wait? Well, not much, not much."

Alonso's contract with McLaren runs out at the end of this season, and admits that he is open to a move elsewhere, with his name being linked to Mercedes, and former teams Ferrari and Renault. 

"Every year you try to do your best to fight for titles, victories and podiums," said Alonso. "So we will see what possibilities there are next year, for the improvement of McLaren and their prospects for 2018.

"I finish my contract this year and I have the freedom that I did not have previously to be able to change team or not," he added. "I am very open to any possibility, but the most important thing at this moment in my career is to be happy and that means winning. I will try to do it as soon as possible."

Fergal Walsh