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Is Fernando Alonso preparing to sit out 2016?

Things have not been going well for Fernando Alonso since moving to McLaren. In fact they've been going so poorly that the Spanish driver may end up sitting out next season if things don't improve. At least those are the rumors presently occupying the Formula One paddock. The notion was first raised by McLaren chief Ron Dennis. When asked by reporters about Alonso's near-term future with the team, Dennis said, "I have an open mind to anything, and some of the ideas have involved those sorts of considerations, yes, sabbatical years etcetera." Though far from confirmed, the basic idea would be to see how next year's car performs in pre-season testing, and if it's not up to spec, Alonso could end up sitting out a season while McLaren and Honda get their partnership up to speed, so to speak. Alonso appeared to be puzzled by the prospect his boss raised, but couldn't rule it out, either. It would be a rather unprecedented move, but could end up avoiding some frustrations as the Anglo-Japanese teething process works itself out with time. Alonso has been a constant on the grid since 2003, missing only two grands prix in thirteen seasons: the 2005 United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis when all the Michelin-equipped teams sat out the race in protest, and the Australian Grand Prix at the beginning of this year, when Alonso was still recovering from a crash in pre-season testing. Out of 254 grands prix contested to date, Fernando has landed on the podium 97 times, including 32 wins and two world championships. This season, however, he's only finished in the points once, with his fifth-place finish in Hungary. Of the eighteen races he contested this year, his car failed to get him to the finish line altogether at seven. His seventeenth place in the final standings for the season are the worst he's done since his debut in 2001 with Minardi (the team now known as Toro Rosso). News Source: Autosport (1), (2), (3)Image Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Motorsports Honda McLaren F1 mclaren-honda

McLaren withdraws from Australian Grand Prix after positive test for coronavirus

Renault driver Esteban Occon wears a face mask out of coronavirus concerns as he greets fans in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Grand Prix. / Reuters    The McLaren Racing team has withdrawn from this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix after a team member tested positive for coronavirus, the team said on Friday. The positive test at McLaren follows four crew members of fellow Formula One team Haas being quarantined due to the outbreak. "The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities," McLaren said in a statement. "The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine. The team is cooperating with the relevant local authorities to assist their investigations and analysis." Both Haas and McLaren are Britain-based teams. Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton said it was "shocking" that the Australian Grand Prix could go ahead amid the threat of the coronavirus and suggested organizers had put financial concerns ahead of people's health. Thousands of fans poured into Albert Park on Thursday as race-week kicked off with practice and qualifying for lower-profile motor sport circuits. The Chinese Grand Prix, which was scheduled for April, has been postponed while the Bahrain GP, the second stop in the F1 calendar, has banned fans from attending the March 22 race.

McLaren's entry-level P13 will be called Sports Series

McLaren is dropping its alphanumeric model-naming scheme when it comes to its upcoming model to slot into the bottom of the brand's supercar lineup. Unlike the 650S or P1, the vehicle previously known as the P13, is now rechristened with an actual title as the Sport Series. The announcement comes in conjunction with a somewhat bizarre new teaser video that compares the future supercar to a black swan. It's the, "symbol of a moment that challenges beliefs and turns thinking upside down," according to the clip. That seems like a pretty big promise, but McLaren also confirms that the Sports Series is primed for a global unveiling in the second quarter of 2015 with a carbon-fiber chassis and mid-mounted V8. Hard facts about the supercar haven't been easy to come by. Company spokesperson Wayne Bruce confirmed to Autoblog this year that the price would be "around two thirds of what a 12C would cost you today." Multiple body styles have also been suggested, including a coupe, convertible and possibly even a larger GT version. Earlier rumors also indicated that the turbocharged V8 might be detuned down to around 450 horsepower, compared to 641 hp from the 650S. The switch to using a real name for the model rather than a mix of numbers and letters certainly signals it as something different from the rest of the brand. Scroll down to read the McLaren's announcement and check out its rather weird teaser clip. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. McLAREN CONFIRMS MUCH ANTICIPATED SPORTS SERIES WITH GAME-CHANGING LAUNCH CAMPAIGN Nov 6, 2014 McLaren Sports Series to make global premiere in 2015 Third model in the range will be a pure McLaren View the Sports Series launch film at http://youtu.be/0ff_kV1wqYE Follow the campaign at cars.mclaren.com and join the conversation – #BlackSwanMoments Scheduled to premiere on the world stage in the second quarter of 2015, McLaren has now confirmed that its latest model, previously referred to only by its internal codename 'P13', will be known as the McLaren Sports Series. It will join the range below the 650S, bringing McLaren credentials and exclusivity to the sportscar segment for the first time. The launch campaign will plot the history over 13 chapters of true game-changing – Black Swan – moments from around the world and within McLaren's.