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Alonso: I’m at the top of my game

Fernando Alonso insists he is at the ‘top of his game' more than a decade on from his two F1 world championship titles as a decision about his imminent future in F1 looms.

The 32-time race winner - champion in 2005 and 2006 - finds himself at a crossroads in his career amidst an ongoing struggle for competitiveness driving with comparatively underpowered and unreliable McLaren-Honda MCL32.

Having re-joined McLaren in 2015 from Ferrari, Alonso comes to the end of his three-year contract this season with the Spaniard reiterating he won't make his decision public until September.

Though Alonso's options appear limited now to staying with McLaren or a return to the Renault team he won both of his titles with, the Spaniard maintains his value is higher than ever.

"I'll be thinking about my future during the break, for sure. As I've said before, September/October is my timeline to decide what I'll do next year. I want to win, I think I'm at the top of my game now, so let's hope everything goes well and we'll find the best solution for everybody."

With Alonso directing the majority of his displeasure at Honda rather than McLaren itself, it is anticipated he would be certain to re-sign with the team if it could swap engine supplier.

It is understood, however, McLaren is unable to source an alternative deal with Mercedes and Ferrari believed to have turned away approaches.

Renault, meanwhile, has also been mooted as a potential supplier to McLaren and the likelihood of such a deal could increase should a rumoured deal between Toro Rosso and Honda materialise.

It is believed talks have taken place between Red Bull and Honda as part of a broader plan that could see STR used as a ‘testbed' to bring Honda up to speed before supplying the leading Red Bull Racing outfit from 2019.

Zdroj: crash.net