McLaren fear losing Fernando Alonso next F1 season, Spaniard not ready to retire

McLaren fears that Fernando Alonso would walk out on it next season unless it gets its act together and provide the two-time F1 World Champion with a competitive car. The British Formula One team, competing as McLaren-Honda, finished sixth in the constructors' championship last season a year after finishing ninth.

Alonso, who hasn't been on the podium since the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix as part of Scuderia Ferrari, was forced to retire from three races last season but finished seven times in the top 10 as the new Honda engine showed signs of improvement after a lacklustre 2015 campaign that saw McLaren finish ninth in the constructors' race. Several industry experts believe the McLaren-Honda partnership will click in due time but isn't yet ready to compete with Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari in the foreseeable future.

Since Alonso's contract runs out at the end of the 2017 season, McLaren realises that the Spaniard could take his talents to a championship-contending car next year. "There are always a lot of stories about this. I think Fernando is being honest with us, just as we're being honest with him. He first wanted to see how the new car was. And... how the new regulations are. And I think he likes the new F1. He wants to be competitive because he has talent to show the world and to himself," Eric Boullier, the racing director of McLaren, told a Spanish newspaper while discussing Alonso's future with the Woking-based outfit, per Motorsport.com.

Fernando Alonso still the best driver on the grid, according to Boullier

Alonso hasn't won a championship since 2006 but racing experts realise that the Spaniard is still the most "technically sound" driver on the circuit and could compete for titles if given a competitive machine. The 35-year-old has often been referred to as "unluckiest driver in F1 history" since he could have won three or four championships if lady luck had smiled on him. In 2009, Alonso finished just a point behind Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen. In 2010, he finished just four points behind Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Again, in 2012, Alonso finished just three points behind Vettel, who captured his third championship with Red Bull. Though Alonso's two world championships are nothing to scoff about, the Spaniard could have gone down in the history book as one of the greatest of all time.

Boullier realises that his team needs to keep Alonso happy in his final few years in the sport. "We need to be competitive to keep him (Alonso) happy. If we're competitive he'll be happy and if not he'll take his own decisions (and leave when his contract expires). It's still early days (into the season) But of course we've spoken," the McLaren director said before acknowledging that Alonso is still the best driver on the grid.

"I don't want to give you too much information, because I know a lot of teams want that information, but he's the best. Without a doubt. He's the best because he is, clearly, but over and above that, it can be shown," added Boullier. Fernando Alonso and McLaren will kick start the 2017 Formula One season with the Australian Grand Prix starting March 26.