2009 world champion Jenson Button believes Fernando Alonso “needs to do something else” in 2019, amid McLaren’s ongoing troubles.
The Briton partnered the Spaniard for the first two years of the Honda partnership in 2015/16 but would call time on his Formula 1 career at the end of the latter, allowing Stoffel Vandoorne to take his seat.
A decision to switch to Renault engines for 2018 has not brought the results to Woking that many were hoping and now CEO Zak Brown has instigated a major overhaul of the team to try and change their fortunes.
What this means for Alonso though is unclear, as he has appeared frustrated by McLaren’s ongoing plight but has continued to perform as only the double world champion can.
“He’s clearly still enjoying it, but as a double world champion, finishing ninth and being happy is not really something you want to get used to,” Button told Sky Sports at Silverstone.
“I don’t know what he’s going to do next year, but I think they need a big turnaround and he has to have great belief in them to succeed next year, or he’s going to go.”
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Based on his own experience, the 38-year-old, who now races in Japan’s Super GT, claims he would do the second of those options, particularly with Alonso’s alternative goal.
“He’s got ambitions to win the Indy 500 and do the ‘Triple Crown’ and for me, I feel that’s a good option for him next year,” he claimed.
“From a drivers’ point of view who’s got experience for this, he’s got to do something else.