Alonso to join Hulkenberg at Le Mans (2nd Update)
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| Alonso says no to LeMans |
This rumor is downgraded to 'false' today. Fernando Alonso says he will not be following Nico Hulkenberg's lead by splitting his F1 duties with Le Mans next year.
There has been speculation the Spaniard could join Force India driver Hulkenberg at Le Mans in the third Porsche prototype entry.
But having signed a reportedly $50 million per year deal to spearhead McLaren's new works Honda project from 2015, Alonso was quoted by Marca newspaper as saying he will focus entirely on formula one for now.
"I would not feel comfortable if I was not devoting 100 per cent to McLaren throughout the year," Alonso said.
"There is a lot of work to do here," he added.
"It (Le Mans) is a race that I love and I am sure I will have opportunities when I am finished with F1, but this year, with all that there is to do, it is not possible."
12/03/14 (GMM) Fernando Alonso could follow Nico Hulkenberg's lead in splitting his F1 duties with a sensational debut at the fabled Le Mans 24 hours next year.
Last week, the sports car prototype manufacturer Porsche announced it has signed Force India's Hulkenberg to race not only at Le Mans next June but also the Spa six hours.
It was said Hulkenberg would drive a third three-driver Porsche prototype in 2015. His teammates for the Le Mans entry were not announced.
This year, Porsche returned to prototype Le Mans competition with Mark Webber leading one of the two 919 Hybrid cars.
Now, Italy's Autosprint is reporting that with Alonso now close to having his full-time F1 seat with McLaren finally announced, it could be followed by a shock round of extra news.
The publication cited sources close to the German marque as saying Spaniard Alonso, who famously officially started this year's edition of the Le Mans 24 hours, could also sign up with Porsche for 2015.
"Porsche would not be an alternative to McLaren-Honda for Alonso," agreed Spain's El Mundo Deportivo, "but a complement."
The report said Alonso would join Hulkenberg in the third Porsche entry, along with another unknown driver.
"Despite their friendship," El Mundo Deportivo added, "Fernando would not race in the same car as Mark Webber."
The report said the biggest stumbling block to a Le Mans deal for Alonso is the fact that McLaren is a direct sports car-making rival of Porsche.
10/15/14 (GMM) It is possible Fernando Alonso will take a sabbatical in 2015, according to Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
It is the burning question of the F1 driver 'silly season' at present — now that Sebastian Vettel has left Red Bull apparently to replace Alonso at Ferrari, what will the talented but temperamental Spaniard do next?
"I appreciate your curiosity," Alonso told his more than 2 million Twitter followers this week, "whatever rumors you hear, you know (my) priority is on the track now.
"Enjoy, trust. The best is yet to come," he added.
F1's dominant force, Mercedes, has now consistently and repeatedly ruled out speculation Alonso is angling for a silver seat in 2015.
Wolff thinks Alonso's most likely option is McLaren-Honda.
But "He will go there only if he gets a get-out clause," the Austrian speculated to Sportwoche magazine.
"Maybe he will leave formula one, take a break. This year he went to see his friend Mark Webber at Le Mans — it is obviously a race that fascinates him," said Wolff.
The Italian newspaper La Stampa has published a new poll showing that 70 per cent believe Alonso will be a works Honda driver in 2015.
1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve thinks Alonso was clearly caught short by Vettel's shock switch and the fact Red Bull so rapidly confirmed Daniil Kvyat as his successor.
"It is not good poker by Alonso," the outspoken French Canadian told Spain's AS.
"I think we can all agree that Alonso is the best on the track. But sometimes in F1 you also have to know how to pull the strings and he doesn't always do that as well."
Like many, Villeneuve thinks Alonso is destined to return to McLaren in 2015.
"McLaren is a good team," he said, "but I know Honda well and I don't think they will have success quickly."
He said a sabbatical for Alonso is not likely.
"I think not," said Villeneuve. "After two months he wouldn't know what to do. He's a racing animal."