Alonso casts doubt on racing career beyond 2017
Fernando Alonso says he is unlikely to continue in Formula One after his McLaren contract ends in 2017, despite recent speculation about his future.
Fernando Alonso has downplayed the prospect of continuing his Formula One career after his McLaren contract expires at the end of 2017. The Spaniard, who recently marked his 250th grand prix start, addressed speculation about his future following a challenging period for McLaren-Honda.
Alonso, 34, told Spanish broadcaster TV3 that he does not expect to reach the 300-race milestone, a figure only a select group of drivers have surpassed. Formula One Management acknowledged his 250th start during the Russian Grand Prix weekend, but Alonso indicated that another fifty races is not in his plans.
Rumours had circulated that Alonso might take a sabbatical in 2016 due to McLaren-Honda’s lacklustre performance, but he dismissed those suggestions, confirming his commitment to see out his contract. The 2015 season has been especially difficult for McLaren, and while the team has expressed a desire to keep Alonso beyond 2017, the driver himself remains non-committal about extending his stay.
Alonso’s future and McLaren’s hopes
McLaren has publicly stated its intention to retain Alonso beyond the current deal as it works to recover from recent struggles. For more on McLaren’s stance, see McLaren Keen to Retain Alonso Beyond 2017 as Recovery Continues. Whether Alonso will reconsider if McLaren’s fortunes improve remains open, but as of his latest comments, he is not planning to extend his Formula One career past 2017.
