Fernando Alonso will remain with McLaren in 2018 after signing a new contract with the British team, it has been confirmed.
The announcement was widely expected following the comments made by the Spaniard in recent weeks but it does follow months of speculation surrounding his future in what is the final year of his current deal with the team.
McLaren’s lack of competitiveness due to the failing Honda partnership was the main reason for the uncertainty, but that changed after the two parties split and a new collaboration with Renault was agreed from next year.
Since then, the double world champion, who has made it clear his single desire is to win races and challenge for the title, has been positive about the Woking outfit’s future direction and admitted there was nowhere else he would rather be.
“It’s fantastic to be able to continue my relationship with everybody at McLaren,” he said upon confirming the news. “It was always where my heart was telling me to stay, and I really feel at home here.
“This is a fantastic team, full of incredible people, with a warmth and friendliness that I’ve never experienced elsewhere in Formula 1. I’m incredibly happy to be racing here.”
Despite the problems he and the team have endured since he re-joined in 2015, Alonso maintains faith in McLaren’s ability to once again challenge at the very front of the grid.
“McLaren has the technical resource and financial strength to be able to very quickly win races and world championships in F1,” the 36-year-old claimed. “Although the last few years have not been easy, we have never forgotten how to win, and I believe we can achieve that again soon.
“The last three years have given us the momentum to plan and build for the future, and I’m looking forward to that journey. I’m excited for our future together – and I’m already working hard to make it a success.”
Executive Director Zak Brown was also clearly thrilled to be keeping his star driver, who has continued to give his all throughout the Honda problems and is confident together they can bring success back to McLaren.
“I’m delighted to be able to confirm that Fernando will remain at McLaren. He has been a fantastic asset to the whole organisation for the past three years, is an incredible individual and is one of the most accomplished and talented racing drivers of the modern era,” he said.
“It always made sense for us to continue our journey together. His commitment will allow us to further improve the attractiveness and potential of the wider Group and will ensure we head into 2018 feeling increasingly confident that we’ll be able to take a meaningful step forward.
“Fernando fully understands and buys into the direction we are taking.”
