Renault: "We can't offer Alonso a race winning car"

Fernando Alonso has stated his intentions to climb into a race winning car in Formula 1 next year, with his name being linked with Mercedes and Ferrari. There have also been reports that Alonso could return to Renault for a third time.

Renault advisor Alain Prost has stated that the team are unlikely to produce a car of race winning qualities until 2020. This leaves the future of the Spaniard in Formula 1 under scrutiny, as many fail to see him extending his current deal at McLaren.

"Fernando wants to win races or championships," Prost told Sky Sports News HQ. "I don't think we can offer him a car to be world champion next year - and also maybe in two years." 

Alonso claimed his two world championship with Renault back in 2005 and 2006, but since their rebirth over a year ago, they have been far off the pace of the frontrunners. After just five rounds of the 2017 championship, Renault sits 147 points behind leaders Mercedes, highlighting how far Renault has to climb in order to be thinking about race victories again. 

"We have to be very realistic," Prost continued. "I have been in this business for almost forty years and l know how difficult it is going to be. We have to be really careful about that. We want to progress but we cannot have stupid objectives only because Fernando would be there."

With Mercedes seemingly happy with the Hamilton/Bottas partnership, Ferrari is really the only realistic chance Fernando has for race wins next year, unless Honda pulls off a miracle in terms of speed and reliability. Would the Maranello based team be willing to place Alonso and four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel alongside each other? And would the Spaniard be willing to return after already spending five years there, finishing 2nd in the championship on three occasions.

Fergal Walsh