2018 McLaren F1 Team - Renault

[epo]

I feel the McLaren is one very difficult aero upgrade away from the verge of being contenders.

They are a couple of years away of being contenders.

agreed. which is exactly why i'm sure Alonso is not going to stay with Mclaren in F1.

Which is probably a good thing for McLaren, thanks to him McLaren made some really bad choices last years.

[Manoah2u]

thanks to him? LOL!

the Alonso haters just keep inventing worse excuses to #hate

[Ground Effect]

I feel the McLaren is one very difficult aero upgrade away from the verge of being contenders.

They are a couple of years away of being contenders.

agreed. which is exactly why i'm sure Alonso is not going to stay with Mclaren in F1.

If Fernando leaves Mclaren, then he's out of F1.

[BrunoH]

or in Mercedes... who knows...

[Ground Effect]

or in Mercedes... who knows...

Fernando to Mercedes? Highly unlikely. That would take Lewis leaving and maybe Fernando paying back the $50M the spygate cost Mercedes... and probably racing for free... Just my opinion though

[GoranF1]

Me thinks Fernando will drive Indy in 2019 but return to F1 in 2020 or 21.
He is like vine.

[dren]

Me thinks Fernando will drive Indy in 2019 but return to F1 in 2020 or 21.
He is like vine.

Unless it's driving for Mclaren in F1, I don't see him returning to F1 once he leaves even if he wants to return. I don't think any of the other teams are really interested in his services.

[mclaren111]

I agree. Age is against him.

Also, McLaren need to get their next "champion" driver ready for 2021.

Be it Vandoorne or Norris.

[ALO_Power]

Me thinks Fernando will drive Indy in 2019 but return to F1 in 2020 or 21.
He is like vine.

Unless it's driving for Mclaren in F1, I don't see him returning to F1 once he leaves even if he wants to return. I don't think any of the other teams are really interested in his services.

Ye who would be interested of a top class driver. But 2021 is quite too far, true.

[McHonda]

Me thinks Fernando will drive Indy in 2019 but return to F1 in 2020 or 21.
He is like vine.

Unless it's driving for Mclaren in F1, I don't see him returning to F1 once he leaves even if he wants to return. I don't think any of the other teams are really interested in his services.

Renault are.

When talking about 2021 though the whole point of the overhaul is to create more competition so seats can't be held hostage like currently and new manufacturers are tempted in. With budget caps and new manufacturer interest teams like McLaren,Williams and whoever buys Force India can become as competitive as the current top 3 so there should be more competitive seats, for everyone not just Alonso.

Otherwise Liberty have failed.

[dren]

I should have said top team. Renault might be the only other team to give him a seat. If they retain Sainz and Hulk, I don't see them replacing either with Alonso.

[taperoo2k]

I should have said top team. Renault might be the only other team to give him a seat. If they retain Sainz and Hulk, I don't see them replacing either with Alonso.

Maybe not. But if the engine regulation changes, budget caps and so on pay off for 2021, new teams might well be tempted to hire Alonso regardless of his reputation for being difficult. I guess what may happen is Alonso will go off to Indycar in 2019 (possibly with a McLaren indy car team) attempt to complete the triple crown and then maybe he'll return to McLaren in F1 if they've become competitive before the regulations change. Alonso's drive to win hasn't faded, but perhaps his love for F1 has started to wane. So I'd expect to see him wanting to move on before age really catches up with him. Either way I expect we'll see Lando racing for McLaren next season, he appears to be the next great hope for the team.

[McHonda]

I should have said top team. Renault might be the only other team to give him a seat. If they retain Sainz and Hulk, I don't see them replacing either with Alonso.

Pretty sure Alonso would get first dibs on the seat over Sainz if he was interested. Problem for him is they don't look any a safer bet than McLaren so what's the point. Similar budget, same engine, same resources and infrastructure.

McLaren have a new fuel supplier next year and a hungry star young driver to go up against while he knows he can't compete for wins or titles so what's the incentive to continue at either of them right now if they aren't competitive and are openly telling him that?

Think it's pretty certain he'll go to IndyCar until 2021 and hope that Liberty nail the regulations as both those seats will look good under those regs you would think.

[ALO_Power]

I love how some people get stuck on some ancient assumptions and take them as given even after countless of years. But ok, gotta get based on something I guess.

[McHonda]

I love how some people get stuck on some ancient assumptions and take them as given even after countless of years. But ok, gotta get based on something I guess.