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Andretti: "Alonso wasting his time at McLaren"

Published on 02 Jun 2017 11:08
5
By: Fergal Walsh

Racing legend Mario Andretti has said that Fernando Alonso is wasting his time at McLaren and should consider a move elsewhere. Alonso, who races for McLaren-Honda, has vocally voiced his distress and disappointment with the outfit since he re-joined the team in 2015.

Alonso decided last month to skip the Monaco Grand Prix and race in the Indy 500 for Andretti Autosport, run by Mario's son Michael.The fortnight was going swimmingly until his engine blew up 30 laps from the end while he was in contention for the win.

"The only thing that keeps a driver happy is to be competitive," 77-year-old Andretti is quoted by Spain's Marca. "Anything else is total frustration. He is in the best phase of his career and wasting his time. McLaren obviously feels the same pain because it's a team that only knows how to be with the best."

Andretti is sure that things will pick up for the Spaniard by the end of the season and he will be competing for points: "It can only go better for him," he said. "It looks like they have a (good) chassis, and the situation with the engine will improve. I'm sure he'll be in the points before the season is over."

Fergal Walsh

F1 News Fernando Alonso McLaren Honda

Replies (5)

f1fan0101

Posts: 1,804
Its so hard to imagine him anywhere else next year
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- Jun 2 2017 - 11:33
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  My exact thoughts. Where should he go? Vettel has already marked Ferrari as his territory and has built the team around him, Hamilton will deny him a seat there at any cost, and Red Bull and Toro Rosso wont welcome him. I think Force India is happy with their team and would likely prefer consistency for a while. That leaves Williams, Haas, Renault and Sauber. Williams could accept him should Massa leave, but Im not sure what they'd do, or if Alonso even consider them an option. Renault has already said that they are not ready to give him a race winning car. Haas doesnt look competitive enough for his liking, and the same goes for Sauber, a team that will also be powered by Honda next year but with significantly less funding than McLaren. I can only really see him staying at McLaren or leave F1. I agree with Andretti, and think they will get points sooner or later, with a good chassis even smaller power gains will be significant, but its not the position Alonso wanted to be in.
  + 0
  
  Jun 2 2017 - 12:01
- f1fan0101
  
  Posts: 1,804
  Hamilton would love to be paired with Alonso, Mercedes wouldn't!
  + 0
  
  Jun 2 2017 - 13:07
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  Im not so sure. Hamilton tend to talk alot, so I dont trust his word on the subject. And I only think he'd enjoy it as long as he'd be the number one driver, and I cannot imagine Alonso would tolerate that.
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  Jun 2 2017 - 18:38
Rindtchamp

Posts: 304
Toto Wolff claims to be a 'racer', it that's true he should sign Fernando up for 2018 and lets see Hamilton and Alonso battling. ..but sadly it's unlikely as he'd rather just have a #2 like Bottas for Hammy.
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- Jun 2 2017 - 13:00