F1 | Lauda: “Alonso? He will not come to Mercedes and he will not return to Ferrari"

With a 2017 that has reserved him, at least for the moment, only pain - sportingly speaking - Fernando Alonso could seriously consider the possibility of divorcing McLaren-Honda at the end of the season to undertake a new challenge. Niki Lauda spoke out on the subject, practically closing the doors to the Spaniard for a possible arrival at Brackley.

The former Austrian driver, current non-executive president of Mercedes, has also ruled out a return (which would be sensational) to Ferrari. The reason is soon to be said: "He didn't leave his former stables in the best of ways – Lauda's note to the Spanish broadcaster Movistar - I don't think Ferrari would take him back. As far as we're concerned, we have Hamilton-Bottas and we don't need a replacement for them".

Lauda also underlines an emblematic fact regarding the choices made by Alonso in his career: "He is aggressive, fast, aggressive, no one has the same qualities as him. But unfortunately he made many errors of judgment. He left Ferrari very early and decided to go to McLaren, where the problem with Honda's engine development was already known. Now he's disappointed, but it was his decision to go to McLaren".

Lauda also expressed his opinion on the approval given by McLaren to Alonso to compete in IndyCar in the Indianapolis 500, which will force him to skip the Monaco GP: "I understand Fernando's decision given the moment, but not McLaren's to let him go in the race where they can get a good result".