Alonso keeps McLaren waiting over new deal
singapore — Fernando Alonso said he needed time to look into McLaren’s new partnership with Renault before pledging his future, as he kept his options open despite their split with Honda.
Alonso repeatedly threatened to quit as McLaren struggled with their Honda engines, and their switch to Renault power next year is expected to convince him to stay.
But the two-time world champion, who has also dabbled in IndyCar, said he first wanted to study the new partnership, which was announced at the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday.
“I just received the news and now after Singapore, which is the first priority for me, I will try to know a little bit more about the project and about the Renault engine, about the expectations for next year,” Alonso said.
“Because obviously right now I don’t know anything. So after I consider that I will make decisions.”
The 36-year-old Spaniard said earlier in Singapore that he had offers both inside and outside of
I will try to know a little bit more about the project and about the renault engine Fernando Alonso
F1, and that he would make up his mind in the next few weeks.
Alonso, who won his world titles with the Renault team in 2005 and 2006, has a long-term goal of becoming only the second driver to complete the Triple Crown — winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans and the Indy500.
Securing his services is a major priority for McLaren, who are Formula One’s most successful British team but have not won a race since 2012. “We’re going to turn our attention to Fernando now,” said McLaren executive director Zak Brown. “We’ve been speaking a lot... I think in the nottoo-distant future we should be able to get something done. And that will be the last big piece of the puzzle.” —