Fernando Alonso and McLaren 'part ways'

McLaren

Fernando Alonso and McLaren 'part ways'

No more F1 or Indy 500 partnership.

Martin Macdonald

Friday 5 July 2019 14:51 Updated: 10:11

Fernando Alonso is no longer partnered with McLaren in either Formula 1 or Indy 500 racing after the two parties decided to amicably part ways.

After leaving F1 last season, Alonso remained with McLaren as he chased Indy 500 glory, but the team recently failed to even qualify for the race, citing a lack of preparation as the reason for the failure.

After that disappointment, Alonso and McLaren have severed their racing relations, although the Spaniard remains an ambassador, as first reported by Motorsport Magazine.

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When the two-time world champion left F1, a spokesperson for McLaren said: "Fernando, like all McLaren drivers past and present, will always be part of the McLaren family and we have a strong relationship with him.

"We have no plans to run him in any further F1 test sessions this year as our focus remains on both Carlos and Lando. He is free to pursue other opportunities in motorsport and we would support him in doing so."

Alonso has had two stints with McLaren in his F1 career. The first came in 2007 after he won the drivers’ championship with Renault, but it didn’t prove to be a successful partnership as he butted heads with management, who he believed were favouring rookie driver Lewis Hamilton.

He left after one year, only to return in 2015. However, despite being comfortable in the midfield battle, the team were not competitive at the front of the grid, with Alonso regularly complaining of a lack of power in his car.

He left after the conclusion of the 2018 season to pursue the motorsport ‘Triple Crown’ which includes victories at the Monaco GP, Le Mans, and the Indy 500.

The Indy 500 is the only race remaining in that feat, and after McLaren didn’t even qualify for the 2019 edition, the decision was made a few months later for the driver and team to amicably split.