Brown wants Alonso to stay ‘long-term’

Zak Brown sees no reason why a "happy" Fernando Alonso won't end his Formula 1 career as a McLaren driver.

McLaren's decision to drop Honda at the end of last season saw Alonso re-sign with the team.

It is, according to the Spaniard, a "long-term contract" with Alonso saying he'll then see how things go.

Brown, though, is hoping that Alonso, who will also race in this year's World Endurance Championship, will see out his F1 career with McLaren.

"We've got a long-term agreement with Fernando. We won't go any further than that on any contractual terms," the team boss told Crash.net.

"He's very happy here at McLaren.

"Quite frankly I've never seen him so happy in a racing environment as he is today.

"We've got long-term plans together.

"He obviously has his desires to race in other forms of motor racing, and I'd like to think he'll finish his career with McLaren – not just in Formula 1.

"For however long he'd like to drive, we'd like to race with him."