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Alonso no longer holding ambassador role at McLaren

Published on 20 Jan 2020 18:42
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By: Fergal Walsh

Fernando Alonso has formally parted ways with McLaren, as he is no longer holding an ambassador role at the team.

The Spaniard originally raced for the Woking squad in 2007, joining after winning the drivers' championship two years in a row with Renault.

However after an intense season crowded with controversies, Alonso left the team, only to return eight years later alongside Jenson Button.

His return was not successful, and Alonso walked away from a race seat in F1 at the end of 2018 after three years of fighting in the midfield or towards the back of the field.

He remained an ambassador for the British company, entering the Indianapolis 500 in 2019 with the team - however he shockingly failed to qualify for the race.

At Bahrain, a handful of months before his Indy 500 venture, he drove the McLaren MCL34 during an in-season test.

However, any more commitments to McLaren are not to be expected in the near future, as the 38-year-old has not had his obligations to the team transferred over to 2020.

Alonso is expected to return to Indianapolis later this year to contest the famous 500-mile race once more, with Andretti Autosport being tipped as the team he will enter the event with.

McLaren has partnered up with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports for the 2020 IndyCar season, signing Patricio O'Ward and Oliver Askew as its drivers.

MORE: Alonso hoping to finalise 2020 Indy 500 drive 'soon'

Alonso has indicated that he will decide on a potential F1 comeback in the coming months, while affirming that his priority was the Indy 500.

Any return to the McLaren F1 team is unlikely, as the team has stated multiple times that it is content with its line-up of Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris, who partnered each other for the first time in 2019.

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

Now this is interesting. I don't see why Alonso would have to part ways with Mclaren unless he was going to do something that would create some sort of conflict of interest. That being said, at this stage, I have no idea what that could possibly be. No way he'll get an F1 seat anytime soon. Indy ... [Read more]

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Jan 20 2020 - 19:39

F1 News Fernando Alonso McLaren

Replies (5)

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
Now this is interesting. I don't see why Alonso would have to part ways with Mclaren unless he was going to do something that would create some sort of conflict of interest. That being said, at this stage, I have no idea what that could possibly be. No way he'll get an F1 seat anytime soon. Indy 500 maybe, but I didn't think that would be a problem, especially since Mclaren announced their drivers a while back.
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- Jan 20 2020 - 19:39
- Kean
  
  Posts: 692
  Here's what I can't see regarding Alonso's possible return in 2021: Ferrari? No, they're backing Leclerc and Alonso has pretty much ruled that out himself. Red Bull? NOOO. Honda won't allow it (I'll be amazed if Alonso drives an Andretti-Honda at Indy). McLaren? No, they're committed to their drivers it seems. Mercedes? No, they've got Hamilton (so perhaps if Ham quits). So IF Renault shows improvement (and perhaps fires Abiteboul) Alonso might replace Ricciardo, should Ricciardo go to Ferrari and Vettel retires. So basically a very, very small chance of an Alonso return in my opinion.
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  Jan 21 2020 - 10:43
calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
Was just a matter of time. The relationship between McLaren and Alonso did, to some degree, sour during his last season in the team, and I really didn't see them bringing him back (neither he nor they wanted it), so this was expected. As for his chances to return: Ferrari ain't interested and he burned his bridges with them, and they already have two well-merited drivers, Mercedes won't be interested in having 2 strong drivers, they can almost bring in anyone and they'll be competitive anyway, RBH are too busy with all their drivers they wanna juggle, and while Honda wouldn't necessarily like him back I don't think they are a major concern here, but they could indeed want to block the move. And all of this discount the top 3 pet divas not blocking the move... which they would... And Alonso just isn't interested in another team than the top 3 teams.
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- Jan 21 2020 - 18:07
Mansell

Posts: 104
Finally the curse has been lifted bye nando
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- Jan 21 2020 - 20:29
Pistonhead

Posts: 556
I think it's adios amigo, Im sure Mercedes will welcome him once Hamiton retires but its all possible he will be past his peak by then. F1 is a tough sport.
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- Jan 21 2020 - 20:37