Alonso to decide future after McLaren’s Renault switch

Singapore (Reuters): Fernando Alonso is waiting for McLaren to confirm their switch from Honda to Renault engines before he clarifies his own Formula One future.

McLaren are expected to announce at the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday an end to their troubled three-year partnership with the Japanese manufacturer and a new deal with Renault starting next season.

Alonso, who won his two world championships with the Renault team in 2005 and 2006, has made having a competitive engine a condition of his staying at McLaren. His contract expires at the end of the season.

The Spaniard is expected to extend his three-year stay at the team, but he was giving little away on Thursday.

“I will think what is the best option,” Alonso told reporters.

”As I said many times whatever I do next year is because I want to win. At the same time I want to give time to my team. ”After they (McLaren) take decisions, I will take mine,” the 36-year-old added.

Alonso has spent the last three years mired at the back of the field.

He scored his last win at his home Spanish Grand Prix in 2013, with Ferrari, and has scored a meagre 75 points since he rejoined McLaren at the start of their partnership with Honda in 2015.

The Spaniard has finished no higher than 10th in the overall standings in that time.