Fernando Alonso has brushed off a claim by manager and former Renault boss Flavio Briatore that he should leave McLaren at the end of 2018.
This week, the flamboyant Italian told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport that the double world champion should look to move to “Ferrari or Mercedes” next season with a seat potentially available at either team.
When asked about those comments, however, the Spaniard insisted he is very happy with the British with whom he re-signed for last year after the decision was taken to switch from Honda engines to Renault.
“Flavio wants the best for me in terms of results,” Alonso told Spain’s AS newspaper. “In the last two or three years there were three teams ahead of the others so I understand his comments, but I’m happy where I am now.
“I think there are many things that we will change and we will become more competitive. So I think that in the next couple of months, the place to be is McLaren.”
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A day earlier though, the 36-year-old surprised some when he suggested McLaren fans had set their expectations for this season too high, despite he being largely responsible after talking up the chance of race wins and maybe even a championship bid.
“I don’t know exactly what the people were expecting from one season to another when the regulations stay the same and there are three teams ahead of everyone last year,” he said.
“We’re third in the constructors’ championship, fourth in the drivers’ championship – maybe not on performance. We didn’t have any mechanical failures, we didn’t have any operational failures. I think we’re the only team now [who can claim that].
“I understand the expectations are difficult to meet when we’re talking about McLaren and a championship fight. Look at the facts, not the feelings or the wishes or the dreams. If we see the facts, this is a very good start.”