08/03/2016
NEWS STORY
Whilst some sections of the media are determined that this year will shape Fernando Alonso's future, the Spaniard insists he is waiting to see how next season pans out.
Though the MP4-31 completed 1,400 miles in testing over the eight day of pre-season testing, compared to 1,088 in twelve days in 2015 - Alonso himself completing 963 miles (333 in 2015) - the McLaren-Honda showed no genuine sign of worrying Ferrari or Mercedes just yet.
Consequently, with tiresome predictability, some sections of the media are already asking if he'll last the full season far less wait around for 2017 and beyond.
Speaking to reporters in Baku, as he visited the new street circuit that will host the European Grand Prix in a couple of months, the Spaniard insisted he will wait until 2017 before making any decisions about his future.
"I have a contract until the end of 2017, so that's the minimum I will be at McLaren," he said. "Then, in 2017, the regulations will change a lot, the cars will be very different, they are supposed to be five-seconds faster. So I will drive in 2017, see how much I enjoy driving those cars, and I will make a decision to stay more years or to stop in F1.
"For this year the goal is to be often in the points," he answered, predictably, about the season ahead, we must be every race in the points, and then fighting for podiums in the second part of the season.
"We are happy with the starting point," he continued, "but we know all our competitors are also quite strong so we need to work hard.
"We are in a better position, but not where we wanted," he admitted, "we are not that strong right now, but we know what we need to change."