McLaren F1 team in final push to hire Vettel or Alonso

McLaren is making a final push to convince Sebastian Vettel or Fernando Alonso to lead the team in its new Honda era, AUTOSPORT has learned

Team chiefs Eric Boullier and Ron Dennis are focusing their efforts on securing the two highly-rated top Formula 1 stars as soon as they can.

Although both drivers are under contract for the immediate future - with Vettel committed at Red Bull until the end of 2015 and Alonso a year longer at Ferrari - that has not proved a turn-off for McLaren.

Button's F1 future remains uncertain

In fact, the team is eager to get a firm commitment on both drivers' plans over the next few years, and has told them it is ready to wait until 2016 or 2017 for them if it must.

Getting such a commitment now would then allow it to finalise driver plans in the shorter term, or even open the door on a deal being reached to land its big star earlier.

This is why McLaren is refusing to sort out its 2015 line-up until it knows exactly what Vettel and Alonso are doing longer term, which means current drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button are being left in limbo.

Speaking exclusively to AUTOSPORT, racing director Boullier made it clear that McLaren was doing all it could to win over Vettel and Alonso, and would refuse to give up its chase until both drivers had categorically said no.

When asked about the chances of getting one of the big star names, Boullier said: "I will try any driver that will suit our strategy for the future.

"We are still pushing and we will take the time we need. We don't want to do a mistake - we have one shot and we don't want to miss it.

"McLaren is a top team, a big team, with a lot of history and we want to be back where we should be.

"So if we can afford to take the time to think and to prepare our strategy then we have to do it."

It is understood that McLaren has been told it will get an answer from Vettel and Alonso very soon, and it wants to sort out its 2015 driver plans before the final flyaway races that begin with the Singapore Grand Prix next month.

Boullier refused to elaborate on the exact timing of a decision, but made clear it would not wait until the winter before knowing its 2015 line-up.

"It will be soon, a few weeks," he said.

shares
comments

Why booing isn't bad for F1

Button's F1 future uncertain as McLaren waits on Alonso, Vettel

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Alex Kalinauckas

Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations Why Mercedes may be wrong to be so cagey on new F1 expectations

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023? Is this F1's most underrated driver of 2023?

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Alex Kalinauckas

Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked Why Verstappen's 2023 Spanish GP win wasn't as simple as it looked

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
GP Racing

How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule How F1 teams manage the punishing reality of F1’s relentless schedule

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jonathan Noble

The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing The war reality that shines a light on the job Red Bull is doing

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Jake Boxall-Legge

How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14 How Mercedes' new F1 upgrades fared - and what's next for the revitalised W14

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Plus
Plus
Formula 1
Monaco GP
Alex Kalinuackas

Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate Why the highlight of F1 2023 so far should end Monaco's calendar slot debate

Subscribe