Mansell: Alonso could score F1 own goal for McLaren 

1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell is worried Fernando Alonso’s dual motorsport commitments in 2018 could come at a cost to his F1 hopes with McLaren. 

Alonso will contest the 2018/2019 FIA World Endurance Championship ‘superseason’ - including a debut appearance at the Le Mans 24 Hours - with Toyota alongside the upcoming F1 campaign with McLaren.

The double F1 world champion is aiming to become only the second driver in history to win the unofficial ‘triple crown of motorsport’ and led 27 laps of last year’s Indianapolis 500 before engine problems forced him to retire. 

Following his failed initial Indy 500 bid, Alonso is hoping to add to his Monaco Grand Prix victories by winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the first attempt in 2018. But former Williams driver Mansell is concerned the Spaniard could be on the verge of jeopardising his F1 2018 chances.

“I don’t know what the motivation is,” Mansell told Sky Sports. “For me it bodes that the car isn’t going to be as competitive as we all hoped for, so he wants to be in a competitive car doing something else and having the opportunity to win. 

“When you are a winner you want to be competitive and you want to be able to win and compete at the front. I just think the rationale behind it - if you focus on trying to do a great job… I just hope they don’t score an home [own] goal.”

McLaren has already moved to play down concerns over Alonso’s motivation, with executive director Zak Brown describing his commitment to Toyota and the WEC as “minimised”. 

When asked if he felt Alonso should be prioritising one championship, Mansell - who became the only driver in history to hold titles in both F1 and CART at the same time in 1993 - replied: “It just depends. Circumstances are very different now. 

“Reliability should be much better but you mustn’t have one detracting from the other. If it can all be worked out then great you can have a lot of fun with it.”