McLaren enjoying Alonso success
McLaren claim Fernando Alonso will deliver better value for money than they expected when he defects from Renault next season.
The world champion stunned Renault last December by announcing his switch to McLaren for 2007 after the Woking-based team offered a massive pay rise and a secure future.
McLaren chief executive Martin Whitmarsh believes his team have got a better deal than they expected after Alonso’s dominant start to this season put him firmly on track to win a second title.
He said: “I think he is a better driver now compared to when we signed him.
“He clearly is a very, very talented driver and we thought that when we signed him but we are very happy with the progress he has made.
“We have mixed feelings about how well Fernando is driving at the moment.
“His consistency is astounding and he has grown in stature. He was never one for making a lot of mistakes but his performance this year has been quite incredible.
“It is a little bit of a surprise, it may not feel pleasant now but we are hoping it will feel pleasant this time next year.”
