McLaren set date to decide Alonso future

McLaren boss Zak Brown has indicated that it is too early to discuss McLaren's 2019 line-up and that the future of, in particular, Fernando Alonso, will be assessed after the summer break. The down time comes in August, with the driver's commitment to F1 unclear.

Alonso has made abrasive comments of late, after branding the Monaco Grand Prix 'one of the most boring races ever', and on the same day tweeted that the Indy 500 race taking place was the 'race of the day'.

His demeanour has prompted rumours that he is ready to quit F1 for good and move to another discipline, leaving a seat open for the 2019 season.

But Brown feels now is not the right time to be making judgements, and that they have discussions planned for the second half of the season.

He stated: "I think our situation is the same as everyone’s, it’s a little early in the season.

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"Of course, we’re all talking to our drivers, probably talking to each other’s drivers to a certain extent up and down the pit lane. I think that we’re now back in Europe, it’s usually around the summer time that things start really taking shape as far as our conversations with Fernando.

"Just like last year, we decided to wait until about the summer time and I think Fernando will let us know what he wants to do here pretty soon."

Alonso was one of the few retirements during the race in Monaco thanks to a gearbox problem, and is currently seventh in the drivers standings, with 32 points.

First laps at Le Mans Circuit this morning. What a place and what a car ????! @Toyota_Hybrid #toyota #wec #lemans24 pic.twitter.com/uWQQZoZjma — Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) June 3, 2018