McLaren has no more F1 runs planned for Alonso
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McLaren has no plans to put Fernando Alonso back in its Formula 1 car during the rest of the 2019 season.The two-time F1 world champion quit the sport at the end of last year but has remained in an ambassador and development role with McLaren, which including an outing in the team’s MCL34 at the first in-season test of 2019 in Bahrain.Alonso linked up with McLaren for his failed bid to qualify for this year’s Indianapolis 500, while he also contested the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship super season with Toyota, claiming the LMP1 title and two wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.Despite Alonso now being free following the conclusion of his WEC duties, McLaren team principal Andreas Seidl confirmed at the French Grand Prix that the Woking squad does not intend to give the Spaniard any more track time in its 2019 car.“We have no plan to put Fernando back in the Formula 1 car at McLaren,” Seidl said.“We are very happy with Lando [Norris] and Carlos [Sainz] – they are doing a great job and they’re the future for us, and that is also my focus.“He [Alonso] is still a member of McLaren, an ambassador for McLaren, and it’s a discussion what happens in the future with potentially other racing projects.”McLaren has struck a deal with engine suppliers Renault to sign ex-Williams driver Sergey Sirotkin as its reserve driver for the remainder of the season – a role that was previously held by Alonso.“With all the obligations Fernando is having it is not possible for him to be at every race and be reserve driver,” Seidl explained.”We work closely together in this partnership with Renault on the powertrain side, and Sergey will be at each track until the end of the season.”It made sense to have this agreement and to share resources with Renault. And having him in case of an emergency, let’s say a Thursday morning straight away the reserve driver is at the track and that’s why we did this agreement.”
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