McLaren Executive Director Zak Brown has rejected rumours Fernando Alonso could make a second appearance in IndyCar next month.
Speculation in America has linked the Spaniard, who participated in the Indy 500 as part of a collaboration between McLaren, Andretti Autosport and Honda, to a fifth entry by the Andretti team at the finale in Sonoma, which falls on the same weekend as the Singapore Grand Prix.
However, speaking to RACER, Brown rejected the claims with British driver Jack Harvey, who also debuted in IndyCar at Indianapolis in the same team with Alonso now expected to fill that seat.
“It’s completely crazy,” he said. “He would have to first make that request through us, which he has not, and that [Sonoma] event conflicts with F1 in Singapore. It’s fake news.”
As for 2018, however, IndyCar may remain a potential alternative for the 36-year-old should he decide to end his stint with McLaren after three difficult years.
No significant alternatives in F1 appear to remain, particularly alternatives that could meet Alonso’s desire for a third world title bid, and a return to the States, where he became incredibly popular as a result of his Indy 500 attempt could make sense.
A key decider in that is whether McLaren stays with Honda, with a decision now expected before the end of September but there again options are limited with only Renault left after refusals from Mercedes and Ferrari.