Fernando Alonso believes that only McLaren or Mercedes are capable of giving him a car to win a third Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
Alonso won back-to-back world titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, but is still yet to claim a third championship despite tenures with McLaren in 2007, Renault again in 2008 and 2009, Ferrari from 2010 to 2014 and McLaren for a second time since last season.
The Spaniard scored points on just two occasions in 2015 as McLaren struggled during power unit supplier Honda’s comeback season, and any hopes of a third world title still seem some way off.
However, Alonso remains certain that he made the right decision to leave Ferrari after 2015, believing McLaren to be the only team that is capable of winning the title besides the currently-dominant Mercedes team.
“I was right [to leave]. I was right because I felt I was right,” Alonso said.
“In 2014 I made the decision and had two years more on my contract, but felt I was right to go. Whatever results they achieve in 2015 and 2016 or in the future, my time there was fantastic and I wanted to finish on that fantastic feeling.
“Every year was a little bit more stress because you are not winning and it seems that it is your fault.
“Now it is not a relief that they are not winning or having more problems, I don’t wish any problems on Ferrari because it is a team that I will always have in my heart.
“But in terms of driving, how competitive or my third world championship hopes, then you drive for Mercedes or McLaren-Honda.
“That is my opinion and the feeling from that decision.”
Alonso currently sits 13th in the drivers’ championship after 12 races in 2016, scoring more than double his haul from the entire 2015 campaign.
