Alonso is "first on speed-dial list" should McLaren need him in the future

Zak Brown says he will call Fernando Alonso if McLaren ever needs his services in the future. Jenson Button was required to cover Alonso in 2017, a year after he retired for the Monaco Grand Prix because the Spaniard was busy in the Indy500.

Alonso, 37, will leave Formula 1 after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend following a 17-year stint in the sport. He will have a special livery on his car to commemorate him.

Thanks @Mclaren for the special livery. Love it pic.twitter.com/K5DUYhODmH

— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) November 21, 2018

Team boss Brown acknowledged his services and told Reuters if McLaren needs a driver, they'd call Alonso immediately.

“We certainly wouldn’t hesitate, if we needed a driver that’s not one of our current two, to have Fernando be the first on the speed-dial list,” he said.

“Schumacher came back, Prost came back. I wouldn’t rule that out. We’re very happy with our driver lineup for the future — that’s what we are very focused on at this moment — but never say never. He’s certainly driving at the top of his game.”

McLaren are used to calling up drivers in an emergency situation. Stoffel Vandoorne made his debut when Alonso was injured for the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris will replace the two outgoing drivers in 2019, but Brown says if Alonso is free, he'll try and help out on the pit wall.

"He talks about one of these days having a management shirt. He loves being at racetracks: when he’s not at a Formula 1 track or endurance, you’ll find him at his go-kart track. He can’t stay away from racetracks," Brown added.

“He’s still a McLaren driver. We’re doing the Indianapolis 500 together, so I think Fernando has other ways he can influence and help our team.”