Fernando Alonso has revealed he will meet with Renault bosses to look at their potential in 2018 before deciding whether to remain with McLaren beyond this year.
On Friday in Singapore, it was confirmed the British team will end their partnership with Honda after three seasons to forge a new alliance with the French manufacturer next season, a switch that many believed would be the precursor for the Spaniard to sign a new contract.
However, the double world champion insisted no decision had been taken on his own future and he will now evaluate whether the company he won his two titles with is on a path to matching the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari.
“After Singapore, I will try to know a little bit more about the project, the Renault engine and the expectations for next year, he revealed. “Obviously right now I don’t know anything, so after I can see the data I will make decisions.
“You never know if it’s a good move or a bad move for the team, but I think that if McLaren thought that it was time to split with Honda and go for Renault, it’s because they have good information about next year.”
Alonso would also claim he thinks the new tie-up with Renault would mean “normality” for the Woking-based outfit after a baron period of results, with their last win coming in 2012.
“The aim is, as I always said, to be on the podium and fight for victories, to be thinking ‘what we will do at the start?’ looking at the videos for maybe attacking and maybe leading the race in the first stint.
“Those are all the things I did for 13 years of my career. So as I said, back to normality.”
On the failed Honda experiment, the 36-year-old, who ended a disappointing stint at Ferrari to be a part, would actually be positive suggesting it wasn’t a waste of three seasons.
“I personally feel very proud of what we tried to do in the last three years, the people that work here,” he said. “Obviously they will stay in the sport with Toro Rosso and it will be interesting to see the future for them.”
