McLaren stands firm, Alonso is “Not Available”

F1 Update – British F1 team McLaren-Honda has shot down Mercedes’ tentative attempts to poach driver Fernando Alonso. McLaren’s recently appointed Exec Dir Zak Brown told SBD Global that the two-time world champion is “not available.” Mercedes is on the hunt for a new driver following the surprise retirement of newly crowned world champion Nico Rosberg. Mercedes Motorsport Head Toto Wolff said in an interview with Sky Sports that the team is considering Alonso as a potential replacement.

Wolff’s interest in the 35-year-old Spaniard does not come as a surprise to Brown. “If I was Toto I would want the two best drivers in the world, and I think everyone recognizes that Fernando is one of those,” he said. “But we got a contract with Fernando and he’s doing great with us, and we are getting more and more competitive. So I guess unfortunately for Mercedes, Fernando is not available.” Alonso, who won back-to-back driver titles with Renault in ’05 and ’06, signed a three-year deal with McLaren in ’15. Asked if there is anything that Mercedes could offer to change his mind, Brown said, “Not that I can think of.” Alonso has been unsuccessfully trying to win another championship for the past 10 years.

Now in his mid-30s, a move from a struggling McLaren to a dominant Mercedes team could have been his best chance to win an elusive third title. Brown said that he has not personally talked to Alonso about Mercedes’ interest. “I’ve not talked to him specifically about this, there’s no need to because we are all committed to each other next year,” he said. A move to Mercedes would have reunited Alonso with his former McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton. The relationship between Hamilton and Alonso grew sour and only lasted for one season. Alonso decided to leave the team at the end of ’07 after McLaren failed to keep its promise of making him the clear No. 1 driver in the team.
KEEP LOOKING: Alonso’s most recent teammate Jenson Button, who decided to take a break from racing in ’17, is also not an option for Mercedes, Brown added. McLaren will retain Button as a reserve driver next year, with hopes the ’09 world champion returns as a full-time driver in ’18. Belgian driver Stoffel Vandoorne has been chosen to take over for Button in ’17. McLaren’s firm rejection means Mercedes has to look somewhere else to fill its vacant seat. The current frontrunner appears to be Manor driver Pascal Wehrlein, who is also part of Mercedes’ young driver program. Williams’ Valtteri Bottas and Renault’s Nico Hülkenberg are other high-profile names in the running for Rosberg’s seat.

Category: Formula One