Brundle: Alonso wants Button as team-mate

Fernando Alonso would prefer Jenson Button to be his McLaren team-mate next season, according to former racer Martin Brundle.

Brundle believes Alonso’s experience of being at McLaren in 2007, when he came up against a young Lewis Hamilton, means he would be keen to avoid Kevin Magnussen.

McLaren are believed to have signed Alonso on a three-year contract but the identity of his new team-mate is unknown.

It was expected that the younger Magnussen will be retained alongside the Spaniard, but McLaren’s delay in announcing their 2015 driver line-up has put Button back in the frame.

Brundle, who currently works for Sky Sports, says that Alonso could put Button in contention:

Martin Brundle & Fernando Alonso on the podium in India (2012)

“Fernando had the experience of the new kid there last time he was at McLaren and I think he would rather have Jenson there. He wants a known quantity and he doesn’t want a whippersnapper.

“He wants experience and he’ll be pretty convinced he can beat Jenson- and Jenson will be pretty convinced that ‘Hey, I took on Lewis Hamilton in that team and matched, and I’ll do the same so bring on Fernando’.

“But I’ll am still amazed that Ron Dennis and Fernando will be working together again.”

Alonso and Dennis parted on bad terms when Alonso left the team in 2007.

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