McLaren CEO Zak Brown has set his sights on an emotional reunion with legendary driver Fernando Alonso, not in F1, but at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the two-time world champion has already tasted victory.
With McLaren confirming its return to top-level endurance racing in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), Brown has made it clear he would “love” to see Alonso behind the wheel once again in McLaren colours as part of their Hypercar effort.
The Woking-based team made history by winning Le Mans on debut in 1995 but has not raced in the premier category since 1998. That changes in 2027, as McLaren looks to bolster its legacy with an ambitious campaign targeting endurance racing’s biggest prize.
Brown believes Alonso, who won Le Mans twice with Toyota in 2018 and 2019, remains one of motorsport’s finest talents — even if his F1 days with Aston Martin are, in Brown’s words, “numbered.”
“Fernando is one of the best. I know that because he has worked for us. He is an incredible athlete and although his days in Formula 1 are soon numbered, we have already announced that we will return to Le Mans. It is a race that he has already won, and I would love to see him behind the wheel of a McLaren again,” Brown said at the Laureus Sports Awards.
Alonso could headline all-star McLaren crew
Should Brown succeed in signing Alonso, the Spaniard might join a formidable McLaren line-up at Le Mans. Brown has previously floated the idea of fielding Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in the WEC race as well, and both drivers have expressed interest.
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“I’ve talked to Lando and Oscar about it, and they’ve said they’d love to go race Le Mans,” Brown noted in a separate interview with RACER. “That’s cool, right? I think all these motorsports converging are great.”
Alonso’s contract with Aston Martin ends in 2026, leaving the door open for a 2027 switch. But that scenario could become more complicated if Aston Martin successfully lures Max Verstappen with its reported blockbuster offer. A reshuffle at Aston Martin might force Alonso out — or encourage him to retire from F1 altogether.
Alonso has already proven his endurance credentials, having also secured the WEC LMP1 championship title in 2019. A return to Le Mans with McLaren would be a fitting encore for one of F1’s most accomplished drivers, and potentially a final chapter that bridges both his single-seater success and sports car triumphs.
