Alonso edges closer to McLaren return

The rumour-mill and speculation regarding Fernando Alonso was in over-drive over the weekend in the United States.

The two-time Formula One World Champion is said to be in a contract despite with Ferrari.

The Spaniard had two-years remaining on his current contract, but it was thought that this had been torn up by mutual consent, opening the door for Sebastian Vettel to make the move from Red Bull Racing to Ferrari.

But whilst Alonso’s Ferrari departure has been widely expected, it was never formally confirmed and neither had Vettel’s imminent arrival.

Speculation continued to mount regarding where Alonso would be next season.

With McLaren’s switch from Mercedes to Honda next season, it has been widely discussed that the Japanese manufacturer would like a marquee driver for next season and Alonso appears to have been their number one choice.

It would seem the obvious choice for Alonso as well considering that he has been rumoured to have been holding talks with them for well over a year, but once again and with no announcement forthcoming, speculation was rife.

Would he take a year out in the hopes of forcing his way into Mercedes in 2016?

Would he be joining Ferrari’s former team principal Stefano Domenicali at Audi, with the German manufacturer rumoured to be considering their future in DTM [German Touring Cars] and WEC [World Endurance Championship] with a potential move into Formula One in 2016?

Could he even join Haas Racing?

Well after all the fun and games it would appear, according to the BBC that a deal with McLaren is all but done.

The British broadcaster’s Chief F1 writer Andrew Benson has reported that ‘Fernando Alonso is on the verge of sealing a deal to join McLaren’ adding ‘it would now be a major shock’ if the deal was not formally completed.

The 33-year-old will also not be signing a one-year stop-gap deal in the hopes of something better coming along in 2016. Instead he will be signing a two-year-deal with the option of a third season.

The next question for McLaren will be who to partner Alonso with?

2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button or Kevin Magnussen?