Webber: "Mercedes power may not be enough to keep Alonso"

Former Red Bull driver Mark Webber has called Fernando Alonso's situation at McLaren as a "travesty" as the Spaniard continues to struggle with the McLaren-Honda partnership. Alonso joined McLaren when the aforementioned manufacturers rekindled their relationship in 2015.

However, it has not gone smoothly, as McLaren is yet to break through the midfield. Currently, they sit last in the standings with no points, with the deal between McLaren and Honda looking on the verge of ending. Alonso has seen the chequered flag just once this season, at his home Grand Prix in Spain.

"It's a total waste and an absolute travesty that he's at the back of the grid, driving a car that's uncompetitive," Webber told GPUpdate.net at the FIA Sport Conference in Geneva. "He's still in a situation where he's driving phenomenally, though.

"I think his value has never been higher, with what he's done at the Indy 500, and with what he's done sometimes with that McLaren – Stoffel I don't think knows what's hit him. I've also been hearing incredible things about how awesome he was at Indy; [Alonso's mentor] Gil de Ferran, and I know Gil well, just said it was phenomenal how well he took to it."

Mercedes power

McLaren has been rumoured to be re-joining forces with Mercedes, who supplied them with engines from 1995 to 2014. Webber doesn't know if it will be enough to keep Alonso at the team, who has stated that he wants a championship winning car.

Webber continued: "Let's see what engine McLaren get, if they can hold him over the winter, and convince him that they're going to win next year. It still won't be the same engine as the silver cars, will it? McLaren would need to have half a second in the pocket from the car."

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Maybe not, but it should be. He wont get anywhere else in F1, methinks, and if McLaren got more power they could very well be one of the better teams. Probably not on par with Ferrari or Mercedes, but I could see a RB vs McLaren fight.

    • + 0
    • Jun 22 2017 - 17:20

AZ Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

AZAzerbaijan Grand Prix

Local time 

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 620
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 191
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (44)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar