Zak Brown has admitted that Fernando Alonso might not race an orange car in Formula One next year. Spaniard Alonso won Le Mans recently, and he now wants victory at the Indy 500 to complete the elusive 'triple crown'. At the same time, he is obviously disenchanted with his lack of a competitive car and the overall situation in formula one.
"Fernando still has to make a decision," Brown, the McLaren executive, said at Paul Ricard. "We have a very good relationship with him, he has been with us for quite a long time now and ultimately it depends on what and where we will compete and how our F1 car develops," he said.
"I'm optimistic that Fernando will stay in the family and in the formula one car. As long as he feels we can take a step forward, I think F1 is something he would like to continue doing."
McLaren, though, had a dire weekend in France and was among the slowest cars in the field.
"It was our worst performances of the season and I hope an isolated case," said team boss Eric Boullier. "We have a lot of work to do in the next two weeks."
Local time
Local time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
Replies (5)
Login to replycalle.itw
Posts: 8,527
At this rate it feels more likely that he will race with no car in F1 next year.
Kean
Posts: 692
I hope he doesn't race in F1 next year. Not because I don't like the guy, I am in fact a huge fan, and as a huge fan it is too painful to watch him in that crappy car and in that once great team. I'm mourning for McLaren.... Sadly there is no plausible scenario where Alonso finds himself in a competitive F1 car next year. These past few years we've seen the biggest waste of talent in the sports history.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
It seems pretty clear Fernando doesn't want to leave. If McLaren can at least give him a glimmer of hope. Instead, however, we saw their worst weekend to date in France. By the way, what the hell is up with Vandoorne? If he really just a mediocre driver?
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
At this rate he seems like just another overhyped rookie, sadly. Either that or he is really not comfortable with the car.
Kean
Posts: 692
From what we saw in GP2, and the battles he had with Magnussen in FR3.5, he clearly has talent one would think. But then Palmer was GP2 champion, perhaps an unfair comparison... Vandoorne did win GP2 in style. I'm thinking it is a combination of his driving style not fitting with the car (i.e. his and Alonsos driving styles are completely different, and the car is developed in accordance with Alonso's wishes), he is the #2 driver so Alonso's car gets the latest updates first, and finally he's being compared with Alonso who is arguably the best F1 driver in history at getting the most out of a crappy car.