Fernando Alonso laughed off a report by Motorsport Magazine suggesting he and McLaren had parted ways.
Several outlets, including InsideRacing, quoted the article which suggested the Spaniard had agreed to a “casual exit” in part after the disappointment of failing to qualify for this year’s Indianapolis 500.
However, Alonso compared the notion to an April Fools joke in a tweet, adding it would likely an attempt to gain clicks.
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So with the 37-year-old still very much a McLaren ambassador it seems, despite being open to attempting new challenges elsewhere, attention switched back to that old favourite topic, a possible Formula 1 return.
“I would return if I wanted to,” he told Spanish media.
“Everyone said last year that I would not leave if I had a competitive car, but now I’m leaving a competitive car that is first and second in each race.
“Unlike the Dakar or another category, I have nothing to prove in F1. I retired with 21-0 [qualifying record] over a teammate, which has never happened before.
“I didn’t leave for competitiveness, but for the things I like to do or to take impossible challenges that I try to make possible.”
However, as Alonso has been keen to point out, he currently doesn’t have the interest in making a comeback after calling time at the end of last season.
“Not really. Of course, I watch all the races and it’s more of the same,” he said on if he missed F1.
“Some teams like Haas or Renault are a little worse than last year, and some like McLaren a little better.
“But Mercedes is first, Ferrari second and Red Bull third, which we have seen for many, many years. Formula 1 is a championship that is about the performance of the car.”
