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Fernando Alonso has dropped the heaviest hint yet that he is set to leave McLaren at the end of the season, as he declared his priority for 2018 is to be racing in a title winning car.
Alonso joined McLaren in 2015 with the expectation that he would be fighting for titles as the team launched a new partnership with Honda, who supplied them with power units. However, the plan has ultimately turned to failure as, after three years, McLaren-Honda appear further than the front than ever before.
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"I want to win, I'm here to win," said Alonso prior to this weekend's running. "I think I'm really at the best of my career right now in terms of driving so for next year, the target has to be only one: fighting for the World Championship - not any more fifth or sixth."
With Red Bull looking set to keep Daniel Ricciardo on a long term basis (not forgetting that the team sign drivers from within) Alonso is surely setting his sights on Mercedes, Ferrari, and what is now emerging as the most likely destination for the Spaniard, Renault.
Alonso has spent six years of his career at Renault, and won his two world titles with the team in 2005 and 2006. He left the French outfit for McLaren in 2007, but immediately returned to Renault for 2008 after developing a toxic relationship with leading members of the McLaren team.
His second stint with the French manufacturer, which lasted two seasons, saw only 2 wins and 4 podiums before a five-year run with Ferrari, which saw him emerge as runner-up in the championship on three occasions.
The main talk surrounding Alonso in Bahrain is the news that he will be skipping the Monaco Grand Prix to take part in the Indy 500, in a bid to establish himself as the best driver in the world.
"If I want to be the best driver in the world there are two options: I win eight Formula 1 World Championships, one more than Michael [Schumacher], which is very unlikely; the second one is to win different series in different moments of my career and be a driver that can race and win in any car, in any series. So, that's very challenging - but attractive as well."
Fergal Walsh
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Unsurprising.. Lets hope he gets the car he wants