McLaren CEO Zak Brown admits the only way Fernando Alonso returns to Formula 1 at his team is in a third car.
This weekend, the American is at Le Mans for the 24 Hours as the British outfit considers a return to WEC in the new hypercar prototype regulations coming next year.
At the same time, Alonso is competing in what is his final race with Toyota in the category, with speculation continuing as to what the Spaniard has planned for 2020.
Asked if F1 was an option, Brown told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport: “Then I first have to ask [F1 CEO] Chase Carey if I can use three cars!
“We have long-term contracts with our current drivers [Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz] and are also very satisfied with them.
“Fortunately, Fernando has not yet called as there are currently no cockpits available.”
In fact, McLaren is enjoying a stronger 2019 without Alonso as they currently sit fourth in the Constructors’ standings.
“Our current drivers have done super well so far,” he noted. “They have achieved Q3 in fifty per cent of the races and give us good feedback.
“Moreover, they get along well, so I don’t have to worry about fear when they fight each other.”
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For his part, Fernando doesn’t appear too interested in F1 right now either.
“I like the idea of the hypercar regulations that Aston Martin has also committed and also Toyota and hopefully more brands in the coming weeks,” Alonso told Spain’s AS newspaper.
“I will surely be in 2021, 2022 or 2023 with a hypercar, I have already said that the WEC parenthesis is not a definitive goodbye and that I will return, but I do not know if it will be two, three or five years.”