14/02/2019
NEWS STORY
With Formula One the way it is right now, what with teams dressing up their 2018 cars with 2019-spec front and rear wings and then 'unveiling' them as their latest contenders, it comes as no surprise that there remains a possibility that Fernando Alonso will return to F1 following his decision to leave to pursue other goals last season.
Ever since the Spaniard 'walked away' from F1 there has been speculation that even if he doesn't return to the grid - certainly this year - he could still test the Woking outfit's 2019 car.
Speaking at today's launch at the MTC, Zak Brown insisted that Alonso will not drive the car in Barcelona in pre-season testing, but refused to rule out an appearance later in the year.
Indeed, though test and reserve driver, Sergio Sette Camara, was at the launch today, the Brazilian does not have the requisite points for his superlicence should he be called upon to deputise for either Carlos Sainz or Lando Norris this year.
"Fernando is still part of the team with our Indy 500 project," said Brown, according to Motorsport.com.
"Gil ultimately leads our kind of driver plan so we have a few plans in directions that we could go if we needed a reserve driver," he added. "I think we'd probably stop short of announcing our reserve driver, but I think there is a variety of drivers out there that if we need someone on short notice could fill that role.
"Right now we are taking testing one day at a time," he said in reference to next week's test, where Sainz and Norris will be on duty. "We are focusing on our racing drivers.
"Any time you go into pre-season testing and doing everything from reliably and performance, you have a set plan and you take it one day at a time."
Check out our McLaren MCL34 reveal gallery, here.