Fernando Alonso will keep on driving for McLaren in 2018. The 36-year-old Spaniard has marked another arrangement which is accepted to be for one year with alternatives to expand.
The two-time title holder trusts McLaren’s new motor manage Renault will restore the group to aggressiveness one year from now after three troublesome seasons with Honda.
Alonso had invested some energy investigating his choices both inside and outside F1 yet said he “feels at home” at McLaren.
He added: “It was always where my heart was telling me to stay.
“Although the last few years have not been easy, we have never forgotten how to win, and I believe we can achieve that again soon.
“McLaren has the technical resource and financial strength to be able to very quickly win races and world championships in F1.
“The last three years have given us the momentum to plan and build for the future, and I’m looking forward to that journey.”
Alonso’s new contract implies he could remain with McLaren for quite a while to satisfy his aspirations to win the Le Mans 24 Hours and Indianapolis 500, to finish engine hustling’s ‘triple crown’. He has officially won the Monaco Grand Prix twice, one of them with McLaren.
McLaren official chief Zak Brown stated: “Fernando has been a fabulous resource for the entire association for as far back as three years, is an extraordinary individual and is a standout amongst the most expert and capable hustling drivers of the cutting edge time.
“It always made sense for us to continue our journey together.
“His commitment will allow us to further improve the attractiveness and potential of the wider group, and will ensure we head into 2018 feeling increasingly confident that we’ll be able to take a meaningful step forward. Fernando fully understands and buys in to the direction we are taking.
“Our shareholders have ambitious plans for the whole group, and success within Formula 1 is a central pillar of that strategy. With Fernando, there is no doubt that we have a driver who can help us achieve our goal of winning again in F1 – and, believe me, we are all keen to do that.”