What next for Alonso?

Fernando Alonso jumped into his Ferrari seat this morning knowing full well that next season he wouldn’t be at Maranello next season.

Four-time Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel has used his get-out clause to jump ship from Red Bull Racing.

The German has enjoyed a dominating period at the team, but this season saw a shift to new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo who has shown the better performances this year and has made Vettel look ordinary.

So for next season he will be a Ferrari driver, which would appear to leave Alonso in limbo.

Fernando Alonso doesn’t appear to have a get-out clause at Ferrari and is contracted for the 2015 season. But his relationship with the team appears to be at an all-time low. Will he be benched? Leaving Alonso without a drive in 2015 or will they come to a mutual agreement leaving the path open for him to return to McLaren?

McLaren have been desperate to land the Spaniard for next season.

McLaren begin their partnership with Honda in 2015 and the Japanese manufacturer have been keen to land a marquee driver to announce their return to the sport.

It would certainly be the ideal situation for both McLaren and Alonso.

If Alonso does make the shift that does not indicate the end of the musical chairs of Formula One drivers.

2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button’s future will look more than uncertain.

The British driver has always stated that McLaren is the best option for him, but if Alonso takes a seat at McLaren where will that leave Button?

Would it be Button’s seat that Alonso takes or would it be Kevin Magnussen? Most in the paddock believe that it will be Button who will lose out but that is obviously yet to be confirmed.

‘I understand they’d like to feel more comfortable than they do at the moment but it’s just not necessary for us to take any decisions yet. We’re waiting to see how things pan out down the pit lane. McLaren chairman Ron Dennis told the BBC before the Vettel announcement.

‘We obviously talk to any driver who could be on the market but we are very comfortable with what we’ve got; we just don’t see the need to take any decisions yet. We talk to everybody.’