Alonso tips Sainz for future McLaren drive

  • Published on 25 Jun 2017 11:14
  • comments 2
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Fernando Alonso has suggested that compatriot Carlos Sainz should join McLaren someday if the opportunity ever arose. Sainz has been already linked to the seat, with the team itself confirming that the Spaniard is an option for 2018.

By the end of this season, Sainz will have spent three years at Toro Rosso, Red Bull's junior team. With the senior team looking to keep Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen for the long term, Sainz may look for a move away and Alonso, who's own future is in doubt, has tipped him for a McLaren seat one day.

"Yes. Toro Rosso is a nice team to start, they help you through your career but McLaren is another level,” Alonso told Sky Sports F1. "Right now, we are not competitive, but McLaren will always be McLaren, at some point they will be on the podium, in the top five, they will always be there.

"After three difficult years, good times will come, I don’t know how good or if McLaren will win the champions in five or ten years, but you have a bigger opportunity than at Toro Rosso.  So if Carlos has the opportunity, I will always support that."

The difficult times that Alonso speaks of is, of course, the struggles that the team is having with engine suppliers Honda. The Japanese manufacturer has massively struggled since their Formula 1 revival in 2015. Its future with McLaren is in serious question, with the team sitting at the bottom of the standings with no points.

 

Fergal Walsh

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Why not, it would be an interesting partnership

    • + 0
    • Jun 25 2017 - 12:03
  • Sainz needs a move but I wouldn't agree with a swap for vandoorne, if I were McLaren I would only get him as a replacement for Fernando if he leaves

    • + 0
    • Jun 25 2017 - 14:05

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 18:58

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 18:58

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

  • Country Netherlands
  • Date of b. Sep 30 1997 (27)
  • Place of b. Hasselt (Belgie), Netherlands
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar