(McLaren Mercedes)
The McLaren Formula One team are set to confirm Fernando Alonso as one of their drivers for next season in the build up to next weekend's season season finale at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The Spaniard has long been linked with a big money move back to the Woking based outfit who will be powered by Honda next season and it would appear that a deal has now been struck between the two parties after McLaren Racing Director Eric Boullier confirmed over the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend that they team were negotiating directly with the Spaniard.
Autosport has now reported that Alonso would prefer to have Jenson Button over Kevin Magnussen for next season as the Spaniard feels that with Button's experience he would be help move the Woking based outfit move back up the grid faster with the Honda power unit.
Jenson Button did his chances of staying at the team next season no harm at all in Brazil as the 2009 champion qualified for the race in fifth place and went on to finish the race in fourth place behind Felipe Massa. Button said after the race that he had really enjoyed the on track battle with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.
Button has comprehensively outperformed Kevin Magnussen this season and is currently in 7th place in the championship, 51 points ahead of Magnussen in the championship.
For his part, Kevin Magnussen believes that his position at McLaren is safe for 2015. With the McLaren driver announcement imminent it would then allow Ferrari to announce Sebastian Vettel as Kimi Raikkonen's team mate for 2015.
© Ben Johnston 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment