- 14 Οκτ 2014, 21:58
#24575
Fernando Alonso: Join McLaren now or gamble on Mercedes?
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/formula1/29604437Although it has not been announced,
the Spaniard's Ferrari contract has been terminated at his request and the team have signed Sebastian Vettel for 2015.
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McLaren insist they have no signed contract with Alonso. But it is understood a multi-year deal has been agreed and is waiting to be finalised as the Spaniard weighs up what he considers to be the best option for his future.
Although McLaren and new engine partner Honda want evidence that Alonso is committed for the long term, joining McLaren for 2015 would not necessarily mean he would stay for more than a year.
Any deal will inevitably have performance clauses which would allow him to leave at the end of next season if those were not satisfied. Typically, these would require the team to be third or fourth in the constructors' championship by the end of the summer.
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Insiders say the Japanese turbo hybrid is showing strong performance on the test bed at the Honda factory, and the company has the advantage of knowing the performance of the current Mercedes engine and therefore what it has to aim for with its design.
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Alonso had been under contract to Ferrari until the end of 2016, but relations between himself and the team reached breaking point last month and he was granted his request to be released from his contract.