Formula 1: Zak Brown denies McLaren and Fernando Alonso split
By Asher Fair
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has denied reports that McLaren and two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso have parted ways earlier today.
Earlier today, a McLaren statement was revealed that indicated that the Woking-based team and two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso had parted ways following their failed Indianapolis 500 attempt together earlier this year.
However, McLaren CEO Zak Brown has reportedly denied this information, calling it “fake news” and stating that the two sides still have a “strong and contractual relationship” with one another.
AP’s Jenna Fryer shared this story on her Twitter account.
Zak Brown tells me reports that McLaren and Fernando Alonso have split is: “Fake news. We definitely still have a strong and contractual relationship with Fernando.”
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) July 5, 2019
McLaren statement “nothing whatsoever has changed in the relationship. McLaren and Fernando have a continuing and contractual relationship and Fernando remains a McLaren Ambassador. no decision has been taken by McLaren or Fernando on returning to the Indy 500 at this time.”
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) July 5, 2019
Here is what this quote, which was first reported on Motor Sport Magazine, stated.
"“Fernando, like all McLaren drivers past and present, will always be part of the McLaren family and we have a strong relationship with him. We have no plans to run him in any further F1 test sessions this year as our focus remains on both Carlos (Sainz) and Lando (Norris). He is free to pursue other opportunities in motorsport and we would support him in doing so.”"
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Alonso retired from Formula 1 following the 2018 season after spending five seasons, including his last four, driving for McLaren. His last four seasons were anything but spectacular, as the team struggled as a whole. He recorded just 25 top 10 finishes, of which only four were top five finishes, in 77 starts, and he never finished higher than fifth place in an individual race or higher than 10th in the driver standings.
He drove in the Indy 500 for the team via a partnership with Andretti Autosport in 2017 after growing frustrated with their performance with their Honda engines, skipping the Monaco Grand Prix to do so.
He did not return to the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2018 after McLaren switched from Honda engines to Renault engines in Formula 1, but he attempted to qualify for the race earlier this year driving for the team through a technical alliance with Carlin. However, he ended up being bumped from the field.
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With Zak Brown having denied these reports, could we still see McLaren and Fernando Alonso work together in future races, perhaps even in the Indianapolis 500 again?