Having seen his chances of winning another F1 title pass him by for the last three seasons in succession, McLaren Honda Formula 1 Team driver Fernando Alonso has said he would join any team that could give him the tools to win a third world championship.
The Spaniard has given McLaren-Honda until September to prove they are the team to help him achieve his dream, and with it looking more and more likely that the two will remain in partnership next year, Alonso, whose contract with the Woking based squad is up at the end of this season, may feel it wiser to move on in 2018, if the Japanese manufacturers previous predictions on their likely form are anything to go by.
The double world champion has also not ruled out a switch of codes to IndyCar, having enjoyed his debut in the Indy 500 back in May immensely, citing it as the only positive so far in 2017, when asked to name a plus point from the current season, at the drivers press conference in Hungary.
“It [IndyCar] is there, it’s one possibility. I’ve always said I’m very open that may come in the future.
“My priority is still Formula 1 and winning the third championship, but I’m open to find the way in any team to achieve that.
“I’m also open to see another series if that is not possible for next year, so let’s see in one month or one month and a half.
“I want to win next year and to win we need some good changes here, many changes here. If those happen, there’ll be a possibility that I stay and that’s something that I will have to consider in September.”
So far this year, it has been a disappointing campaign for McLaren and Alonso, who has only seen the chequered flag at two of the first nine races of the season due to continued reliability issues with the Honda engine, which has been extremely frustrating for all involved.
Things may be about to start looking up however, with both Alonso and team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne making it into the top ten during the first practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
The less power focused Hungaroring, is a track that should suit the MCL32 package much more than other venues visited so far this season, which means hopes are high at McLaren of being able to achieve their best result of the year.
Honda will need to do well from here on in and be confident they can provide Alonso with a winning car in 2018, for McLaren to have any hope of retaining the Spaniard’s services in 2018.
