Brown: "Alonso wants to be in F1 next year"

Executive director of McLaren Zak Brown has stated that Fernando Alonso has made it clear that he wishes to remain in Formula 1 for the 2018 season. The future of Alonso has been heavily debated, with the Spaniard lamenting he wants a race winning seat next year.

With Ferrari shutting the door on him and Mercedes likely to retain Valterri Bottas, Alonso's best hope it seems is to stick at McLaren-Honda and hope that Honda can sort its issues out. The Japanese manufacturer has struggled massively since the start of the season, with Alonso only seeing the chequered flag twice so far. 

"We had a great dinner with Fernando – he picked up the bill," Brown laughed. "We've got a good understanding with Fernando, he loves the environment. Stoffel [Vandoorne] is doing a good job given very difficult circumstances for a rookie, I like where we are on the driver front and said we'd pick that up after the summer break."

Alonso made his IndyCar debut at the Indianapolis 500 last May, as he goes on the hunt for the triple crown, an unofficial award that has been won by only one driver - Graham Hill. With the Monaco Grand Prix already under his belt, the Indy 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans are next.

"I think he loved IndyCar, I think he definitely wants to go back and do the Indy 500 when the time is right," Brown continued. "He's made it very clear he wants to be in Formula 1 next year, so I think the chances of him being in IndyCar are highly unlikely; the chances of him being in IndyCar at some point are maybe as much as likely."

Fergal Walsh