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McLaren losing patience with Alonso as talks drag on

McLaren losing patience with Alonso as talks drag on

  • Published on 06 Nov 2014 12:06
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
McLaren has warned Fernando Alonso he is running out of time to commit to the British team for the 2015 season. Media reports in the last days have suggested the Spaniard, whose five-year stint at Ferrari appears definitely over, has now decided to re-join McLaren to spearhead the team's new works Honda era. Italy's Tuttosport said the contract is for two years with a total value of EUR 70 million.

On a visit this week to Mexico City's rejuvenating F1 venue for 2015, however, Alonso denied the reports. "There is nothing new," he insisted. "I have decided nothing for next year -- nothing is definite yet. With Ferrari I am seeing what is the best decision for next year, whether I continue or not, but I will try to choose what is best for my future."

"I have something in my head, but every week for the past two months there have been these rumours, always with a different team. I respect Ferrari greatly," Alonso said. "It is a team that I love. For Ferrari it has been a difficult year, and for me it has been five difficult years."

On the face of it, it seems Alonso's only choice is McLaren or a sabbatical, leaving Jenson Button increasingly nervous about the likely end of his F1 career. In his latest interview with Hermes, former McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen agrees: "Jenson's behaviour lately reflects a certain loss of confidence. I think when you are striving for success in the long-term, your behaviour looks different."

McLaren acknowledges that it has put Button and Kevin Magnussen in an awkward position as the Alonso talks drag on. Team boss Eric Boullier may now be losing patience. "We want to have Fernando's decision between Brazil and Abu Dhabi," the Frenchman is quoted as declaring clearly to the German newspaper Bild. "We have had good conversations with him, he would fit well with us and he has signalled that he wants the job. However, we want a long-term solution - three years - not just a contract for one."

Honda is making no secret that it wants a driver of Alonso's top calibre for 2015. The BBC has reported Alonso is on the verge of agreeing a two-year contract plus a further option for 2017. "We cannot comment on the drivers as it is a subject for McLaren and Honda," said the Japanese marque's F1 chief Yasuhisa Arai, according to Spain's Marca. "But Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton are very strong drivers and all the teams want them. Any one of them has a chance of being in the team in 2015," Arai added.

The big favourite is clearly Alonso. "There are simply moments in your career when you know that you have to change teams," McLaren legend Emerson Fittipaldi said. "Fernando has arrived at such a moment." (GMM)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Jenson Button Kevin Magnussen Ferrari McLaren Honda

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World Championship standings 2023

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
860
2
Mercedes
409
3
Ferrari
406
4
McLaren
302
5
Aston Martin
280
6
Alpine F1
120
7
Williams
28
8
Alpha Tauri
25
9
Alfa Romeo Racing
16
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Haas F1
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia
Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco
Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria
Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy
Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 502
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 144
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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Ferrari
Ferrari
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