Fernando Alonso, Formula One’s two-time world champion, insists he will be on the grid for the 2016 curtain raiser in Australia.
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McLaren chairman Ron Dennis claimed at the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi that Alonso, who has two years to run on his deal with the British team, may consider taking next year off from the sport.
But Alonso, speaking from Wembley Stadium on Friday, dismissed suggestions of a sabbatical and was definitive on his whereabouts for 2016.
Asked if he will be in Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Alonso, 34, said: “Yes. I talked to Ron on Friday, I told him what had been published. He said I didn’t mean that and tomorrow I will clarify it. On Saturday he clarified but no one copied that.
F1 heroes @JensonButton @alo_oficial @svandoorne launch #jointhepact with Road Safety Minister Andrew Jones pic.twitter.com/SMKQlVJaG9
— THINK! road safety (@THINKgovuk) December 4, 2015
“I said the opposite on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and I’m sure in January and February I will keep answering the same questions about my future.”
Alonso has just finished his worst ever season in Formula One following his move from Ferrari to rejoin McLaren. The Spaniard retired from eight races – the most since his opening season in the sport with minnows Minardi – and scored a paltry 11 points.
Meanwhile, Red Bull have confirmed they will be powered by TAG Heuer-branded Renault engines next year. The announcement from the British-based team on Friday morning finally brings to an end months of speculation surrounding their future in Formula One.
Red Bull, winners of four consecutive driver and team titles between 2010 and 2013, will continue their strained relationship with engine supplier Renault, who themselves have announced that they will return to the sport as a full constructor in 2016 after their takeover at Lotus.
But Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer will take the naming rights of the engine, and as such, next year’s car will be be called the Bull Racing-TAG Heuer RB12.
