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Sainz and Norris would like Alonso to help with 2019 McLaren

Sainz and Norris would like Alonso to help with 2019 McLaren

17-12-2018 12:20
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Nicolás Quarles van Ufford

2019 McLaren drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris have expressed their interest in Fernando Alonso to stay onboard at the F1 team to help out with the Woking-based team's car for 2019, the MCL34.

Alonso has retired from F1 at the end of 2018, ending a four-year stint at McLaren before hanging up his gloves. He's had a notoriously bad time in the papaya-orange cars, publicly criticizing both the team and engine partner Honda for the lack of performance. Even with Renault in 2018, McLaren often couldn't get out of Q1 on Saturdays in the second half of the season.

In 2019, McLaren have a completely new line-up with Sainz and Norris, but the two wouldn't mind Alonso's input as he's had multiple years of experience at the team and therefore knows his way around the car and the team better.

"It would be a precious help," Norris was quoted by F1only.

"Fernando knows how much the car has changed over the years, and he has more experience than me in knowing what's good and what's bad.

"I don't know what will happen, if he will still be part of the team. He is still part of McLaren, but I guess it will depend on him.

"That would be nice, of course,  and it's for the good of the team, his contribution will be as important as that of Carlos or mine."

Sainz agrees with his new teammate, saying that a driver of Alonso's calibre is always helpful when comparing cars.

"It's in both McLaren's and Fernando's interest to stay active, but it's more of a management decision.

"But I wouldn't find it bad at all, I see it as a good thing to have a driver like Fernando comparing the cars."