McLaren is “very close” to agreeing a new Formula 1 contract with Fernando Alonso beyond the end of the 2017 season, according to team racing director Eric Boullier.
McLaren announced last week in Singapore it would be splitting with struggling engine supplier Honda at the end of the season, linking up with Renault from 2018.
The decision was made in a bid to lift the team to the front of the field, having struggled for much of the past three years while working with Honda.
Alonso has made no secret of his frustration throughout the three-year stint, prompting the Spaniard to consider his future with McLaren upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the year.
With the driver market closing up, Alonso looks poised to remain with McLaren for 2018, but said in Singapore he is considering options in many series.
Speaking to the official F1 website, Boullier expressed his confidence in Alonso staying for 2018, saying a deal was “very close”.
“Fernando wants to stay. You can see it in his body language and the way he speaks,” Boullier added.
“There are marketing details that have to be sorted out, and that Zak [Brown, McLaren executive director] is working on.”
Despite suggestions of an ultimatum regarding its Honda partnership being issued to McLaren by Alonso, Boullier stressed that the team made the decision to switch to Renault by its own accord, with the drivers then fitting in afterwards for its 2018 plans.
“McLaren’s DNA is to be competitive. The team has always been in the top three and we belong there again,” Boullier said.
“Today we know that we have a decent chassis, which would allow us to be in the top three again with an equal level engine.
“So for us as a business it is important to be competitive, no matter what role Fernando plays. We had to make a decision for us.
“But if you want to be competitive you not only need an engine, you also need a driver. That is when Fernando comes into the picture.
“We did what we did for McLaren first, but the package includes also the driver.”
