Zak Brown, the CEO of McLaren, sees opportunities to bring Fernando Alonso back to the team. The Spanish driver has previously raced for the British team twice; one season in 2007 and another three seasons between 2016 and 2018. Brown realizes that he doesn’t need to offer the 43-year-old veteran a Formula 1 contract, but Alonso is certainly an option for a seat in McLaren’s future World Endurance Championship (WEC) team.
Zak Brown attended the Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid on Wednesday. The American represented McLaren, which was nominated for the prestigious title of Sports Team of the Year. However, the honor went to football club Real Madrid, which won both the Spanish League and the UEFA Champions League in 2024. The Spanish media present took the opportunity to ask Brown about national hero Fernando Alonso. He suggested the idea of bringing the Spaniard back to McLaren – not in Formula 1, but as part of the Brits’ future WEC team.
Alonso Welcome at McLaren
“Fernando (Alonso) is one of the best,” emphasized Zak Brown. “I know that because he has already worked for us. He is an incredible athlete, and although his days in Formula 1 are soon to be numbered, we have already announced that we are returning to Le Mans,” Brown hinted at a possible collaboration within long-distance racing. “It’s a race he has already won, and I would very much like to see him behind the wheel of a McLaren again,” he concluded.
Fernando Alonso is one of the few drivers on the current grid who has already won in Le Mans. The Spaniard triumphed in 2018 and 2019. McLaren recently announced that it will participate in the WEC again from 2027, thereby opening the hunt for a new Triple Crown. The ultimate goal is to win the Indy 500, the Monaco GP, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans within one year. Fernando Alonso – who flirted with a return to Le Mans last year – could possibly help with this.
