ALONSO APPOINTED MCLAREN AMBASSADOR

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso may have retired from the sport last season but today the McLaren confirmed there ongoing relationship with the Spaniard announcing his new role as ambassador for McLaren.

Before taking off his helmet Alonso 37, took part in 95 Grands Prix for McLaren across two stints, but performance issues and reliability last season saw Alonso quit the sport to instead focus on other motorsports. Alonso will this season compete at the Indianapolis 500 for a McLaren as he seeks to become only the second driver in history, after Graham Hill, to attain motorsport’s Triple Crown – winning the Formula 1 world championship, the Le Mans 24 Hours as well as the oval racing classic.

On announcing his appointment as ambassador the team said Alonso would "help advise the team's drivers and engineers and drive at selected tests to support the development" of the 2019 and 2020 cars.

Alonso said the role was "a true honor" and "just the beginning, I said before I stopped racing in Formula 1 last year that I see myself with McLaren for a long time to come, so I am delighted at this new role and the ability to stay closely involved with the team I feel is my spiritual home."

Zak Brown, McLaren Racing’s Chief Executive Officer said "Fernando is part of the McLaren family. He has set his place in the team’s history and continues to write his chapter of the McLaren story, so it is entirely appropriate that we formalise his status as a McLaren ambassador, joining another double champion, Mika Hakkinen."