Fernando Alonso Rejoins McLaren As Racing Ambassador

McLaren Racing and Fernando Alonso will continue to have a working relationship, with the latter signing on as an ambassador for the eight-time Formula 1 world champions.

Alonso completed a total of 95 F1 races with McLaren, doing a first stint in 2007 and then a second one between 2015 and 2018. He won four races and amassed 241 points for the British outfit. He also raced with McLaren at the Indianapolis 500.

As part of their deal, Alonso will help advise the team’s drivers and engineers and will also drive at selected tests to aid in the development of this year’s MCL34 racer, as well as next year’s MCL35.

“Becoming a McLaren ambassador is a true honour. It is a special team, and despite the challenges we have endured recently, it remains so. I said before I stopped racing in Formula 1 last year that I see myself with McLaren for a long-time to come, so I am delighted at this new role and the ability to stay closely involved with the team I feel is my spiritual home,” said the Spaniard.

Meanwhile, McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown added that Alonso is part of the McLaren family and that he has “set his place in the team’s history and continues to write his chapter of the McLaren story, so it is entirely appropriate that we formalize his status as a McLaren ambassador, joining another double champion, Mika Hakkinen.”

Alonso will also take part in this year’s Indy 500 race as a McLaren driver, as he attempts to become only the second driver in history to earn motorsport’s “Triple Crown” – winning the Monaco GP, 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500.