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Fernando Alonso has revealed that the only door that is closed to him for next season is Red Bull. The Milton Keyes team only promotes from within their own programme and are seemingly happy with their current crop of drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen.
The future of Alonso has been in doubt for some time now as his McLaren contract ends at the end of this year. The McLaren-Honda package is still not competitive and actually sits last in the constructor standings as of the Monaco Grand Prix.
"We'll see. I would be lying if I told you now that I have a concrete plan," Alonso told Planeta Calleja. "I could go to another team, I don't know whether it is Mercedes or another. If Renault starts to dominate, I don't know," he added.
"If in June or July a team calls I think we would have a chance but it's all to be talked about," said Alonso. "I think perhaps Red Bull is the only one that has doors a little closed because it already has young drivers with long contracts," he added.
Renault has previously spoken out about how they would be willing to give Alonso a drive, however a deal is now less unlikely as they themselves has told him next year's car won't be a race winner. Alonso says his future could also depend on F1's new owners Liberty Media, amid plans to drastically expand the calendar beyond a scheduled 21 races for 2018.
"I have to see what they plan to do," he said. "I read that they want to make a championship of 25 races. When I started in F1 there were 16, now there are 20. If they tell me there are 25, I will retire," Alonso revealed.
Fergal Walsh
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Replies (4)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Would love to see him partnered with Vettel but something tells me that is unlikely
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Two so dominant drivers in one team? Unlikely. And the two have very different requirements from their cars, so developing a car that fits both is probably a tough challenge.
talktohenry
Posts: 362
Ferrari is his best option, although I would give the drive to Perez.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
For anyone else except Alonso, moving to Ferrari while there is a clear #1 is career suicide. Barrichello, Massa, Raikkonen (2nd stint). That's just how they operate. I think it's a disgrace and a shame, but I suppose it keeps Ferrari fans happy?