F1 News: McLaren boss Zak Brown keen for stunning Fernando Alonso REUNION

Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 2016, generic — Photo: © IMAGO

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McLaren boss keen for stunning Alonso REUNION

The Spaniard is highly regarded by the McLaren CEO

Tyler Rowlinson

Monday 29 April 2024 10:57

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McLaren have one of the most exciting driver lineups on the grid – but CEO Zak Brown has not shied away from his admiration for former McLaren driver Fernando Alonso.

The Woking-based squad have had a dramatic improvement in recent months, going from a team stuck at the back of the grid to fighting for regular podiums and challenging for race wins.

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Lando Norris enjoyed his best season to date in 2023, finishing sixth in the championship with 205 points and seven podiums.

Team-mate Oscar Piastri won the Rookie of the Year award for his performances last season, finishing ninth in the standings and achieving his first win in F1 in the sprint race in Qatar.

Both drivers have continued their ascent in 2024 too, with a strong start to the season seeing McLaren sitting third in the constructors' championship.

McLaren have one of the most exciting driver pairings

The team have dramatic improvements in recent months

Alonso McLaren reunion on the cards?

Norris and Piastri have recently signed long-term contracts with McLaren and serve as an exciting partnership, but team boss Brown has had high praise for Alonso.

The Spaniard, who recently committed his future to Aston Martin in a multi-year-deal, has had two separate spells at McLaren, first in 2007 after winning his two world titles with Renault and then again from 2015 until his brief retirement from F1 in 2018.

Speaking on the Drive to Wynn Podcast, Brown labelled the ‘impressive’ Alonso as someone he’d be happy to have back at the team.

When asked by host and former race driver Justin Bell how hard it is for the oldest drivers such as Alonso and Lewis Hamilton to perform at the highest level, Brown responded: “I think it’s definitely not easy but you see it in other sports and it only happens with the legends.

“They have a work ethic second to none, they’ve got a focus, a mindset. I mean Fernando is so impressive.

Fernando Alonso recently signed a new deal at Aston Martin

“He’s not slowing down at all, his racecraft is awesome and I know Fernando well, he doesn’t care about anything other than racing.

“So, I think what maybe some of these quote older guys kind of lose their way is because they start getting focused on things outside of racing.

“Fernando just cares about racing and I think as long as he does that like the Tom Brady’s of the world, the Scott Dixon’s, they can kind of defy what everyone else does because they have a focus and a talent that allows them to go later into their career than most.

“So, it’s not going to work for everyone but it’s certainly working for Fernando Alonso, I’d have him drive our car any day.”

McLaren Oscar Piastri Fernando Alonso Zak Brown