McLaren deal allows Alonso to chase Triple Crown

Double world champion Fernando Alonso will race on with McLaren in 2018,the team said on Thursday in an announcement that finally ended one ofthe sagas of the Formula One season.“I’m extremely proud and happy to be part of the project for next year.The challenge is big,” the 36-year-old Spaniard told reporters at the USGrand Prix. “I am motivated more than ever, and happy to start workingfor 2018.”McLaren executive director Zak Brown said the multi-year agreement “allows Fernando to be with us for quite some time”.“Our desire is that for however long Fernando wants to keep driving, andwhatever that is that he wants to keep driving, that he does it withMcLaren,” added the American.Alonso dreams of becoming only the second driver to achieve motorsport’sTriple Crown but needs to win Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500.He missed the Monaco Grand Prix this year to compete at Indianapolis andBrown said the Spaniard would be able to enter other events when thatdid not compromise McLaren’s F1 interests.Le Mans does not clash with any F1 race next year, but Alonso said hehad yet to talk to anyone about that. Alonso also said that Daytona wasunder consideration.“If I want to prepare Le Mans, maybe there are other possibilities toprepare Le Mans a little bit better than I prepared the Indy 500.”Brown said Alonso’s new multi-year agreement allows him to race in otherevents so long as the Formula One team’s activities are notcompromised.“If Fernando wants to do Daytona and we have a seat available, we wouldput his name on it happily,” said Brown, whose United Autosports teamhas an entry to that race.“Zak asked me (about) my ambitions and my plans for the future. So Imentioned the Triple Crown. To be the best driver in the world,” Alonsosaid back in April when relating how the Indy plan came about.“I have to either win eight world championships, and have one more than Michael Schumacher, or be winning different series.”The Triple Crown — variously interpreted as the F1 championship, Le Mansand Indy 500 or the Monaco GP and the same two races — has beenachieved only by Briton Graham Hill.McLaren are currently ninth overall, out of 10 teams, and the seasonranks as the worst of Alonso’s career with the exception of his debutyear with now-defunct tail-enders Minardi.He has six retirements in 16 races in 2017 and failed to start in Russiawhile also missing Monaco to compete at the Indianapolis 500. TheSpaniard has scored points only twice.Max at Red BUll till 2020Max Verstappen has signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bulluntil 2020, the team announced yesterday during practice for the UnitedStates Grand Prix.Verstappen, 20, who last year became the youngest ever winner of a GrandPrix race, said in a statement: “Red Bull has supported me from thevery beginning. I’m looking forward to accomplishing more with thisteam.”