Alonso recommends Sainz for McLaren future

Fernando Alonso says Carlos Sainz would be a good McLaren-Honda driver for the future.

Stoffel Vandoorne is replacing F1 veteran Jenson Button next year, and Alonso is currently refusing to commit to the Anglo-Japanese collaboration beyond the end of his 2017 contract.

"I think it would be a good place for Carlos," the Spaniard is quoted by El Mundo Deportivo newspaper.

"I think McLaren-Honda is a combination that is assured success," Alonso added. "Hopefully Carlos finds the winning car that he deserves, either here or somewhere else."

Alonso’s comments coincided with Sainz telling the Spanish broadcaster Movistar that he wants a winning car by 2018.

It comes a day after Sainz admitted that Renault had expressed some interest.

"My career is guided by Helmut Marko," he said. "People think my father is my manager but everything passes through Helmut Marko’s hands. For all I know, Helmut wants me at his ’B’ team in case something happens on his ’A’ team."