Alonso could test 2019 McLaren

McLaren chief Zak Brown has suggested that Fernando Alonso could be in line for a return to the team next year in order to test their 2019 Formula 1 challenger, and thinks the Spaniard will also stick around in an advisory role to their young drivers.

Alonso's departure from F1 was announced during the summer, with the two-time world champion looking to commit more time to other motorsport disciplines.

It comes after 17 years in the sport, but Brown thinks he could make a return of some sort as early as next year in a testing role.

"Yeah, I wouldn’t rule that out," Brown said when asked if Alonso could test next season.

"Fernando’s extremely intelligent, very experienced, loves Formula 1, loves race tracks. If he’s not at a WEC race or not at a Formula 1 race he’s at an IndyCar race or is in go-kart tracks so I think we’ll have a hard time keeping him away from the race track.

"He likes the engineering and development side. He wants to know what’s going on, not just tell me where I need to be at the race track. So I think you’ll see him around McLaren, he remains part of the family."

Fernando will be wearing these awesome special edition @SparcoOfficial overalls to mark his final @F1 race this weekend. ???? #AbuDhabiGP #GraciasFernando pic.twitter.com/U9aerB3099 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 23, 2018

The McLaren boss thinks that any time Alonso spends with the team will be valuable, especially to their two new, young drivers, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris.

"I think where his influence comes in is helping our two drivers," Brown continued.

"He knows Carlos pretty well, he’s got to know Lando very well so I think there’ll be a big benefit of his experience there, and then with the engineers, just helping us all work together and understand what next year’s car is doing, and the feedback from the drivers, what would Fernando do in a certain situation, I think that experience will be very valuable to us."

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