McLaren will not be returning to IndyCar full-time in 2019, CEO Zak Brown confirmed on Friday.
With Fernando Alonso expected to join the American series next year, it was believed his entry would coincide with the British Formula 1 team expanding their current motorsport activities.
Indeed, it was a McLaren-backed Andretti Autosport entry which the Spaniard raced with at the Indianapolis 500 in 2017 but with work ongoing to revive the F1 squad’s fortunes, Brown claims now is not the right time to add IndyCar.
“We’re certainly not ready yet but we do have a desire to do it in the near future,” he stated.
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The American chief didn’t rule out another trip the Brickyard, however, where Alonso will try and complete motorsport’s ‘Triple Crown’ after winning the Le Mans 24 Hours back in June.
“As far as the Indy 500 is concerned, it remains something of interest to us,” Brown said.
Andretti team owner Michael Andretti is in Austin as a guest of McLaren this weekend which will only ramp up speculation of possible future tie-ups.
For now though, if Alonso is going to race in IndyCar next year he’ll need to find a place in a current team.