Fernando Alonso pictured himself at McLaren’s headquarters in Woking on Sunday amid speculation he will test the 2019 car in Barcelona.
The two-time Formula 1 champion remains closely associated with the British team despite leaving his race seat at the end of last year and has been invited to conduct some running in the MCL34 during pre-season.
Spanish media reported Alonso is set for at least half a day behind the wheel in Catalonia, however, sporting director Gil de Ferran poured some cold water on those claims.
“We don’t know yet, we’ll see,” he told AS newspaper.
Alonso will take part in the Indianapolis 500 later this year in a McLaren car, as he bids to complete the triple crown, and recently added another iconic race to his list of achievements as part of the winning line-up at the Daytona 24 Hours.
“I have always said that for me Fernando is one of the best drivers in history,” De Ferran added.
Also Read:
- Alonso teases 2020 F1 return to achieve ‘greatest joy’
- McLaren sure Alonso’s exit won’t harm car development
Regardless of Alonso’s participation or not, the eight days of testing in Barcelona, which begin on February 18, are going to be critical to McLaren having struggled for significant mileage in recent years and after falling down the competitive order in 2018.
“Obviously, to know how competitive the car is going to be with the new rules, we have to wait and see it in the Barcelona tests,” the sporting boss concluded.