McLaren Honda’s Spanish driver Fernando Alonso and his girlfriend Lara Alvares arrive before the third practice session at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

DPA, Abu Dhabi: Former world champion Fernando Alonso played down the idea he could take sabbatical from Formula One in 2016 after it was suggested by McLaren team chief Ron Dennis before qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix yesterday.
“He will definitely finish his career in McLaren,” the BBC quoted Dennis as saying. “(But) I have an open mind to anything. Some of the ideas have involved those sorts of considerations - sabbatical years.”
However, the 34-year-old Alonso, world champion 2005 and 2006, said he “will be” racing next year.
“I don’t know what Ron’s attention is or what he means,” he was quoted as saying.
“Of course, we all want to improve and put the car on winter testing and see how competitive we are and we are hoping for the best.”
Alonso said in September he was unsure if he would drive for McLaren next season. This year has been difficult for the team as they struggled to adjust to a power unit from new suppliers Honda.
McLaren are second bottom of the constructors’ championship, ahead of only the pointless Manor. Both Alonso and team-mate Jenson Button have voiced their frustration at the lack of competitiveness this term.
But Dennis is confident that McLaren will have a better 2016 regardless of who eventually takes the driving roles.
“When we have to take the decision, we will take it together and at this moment in time our drivers of next year are Fernando and Jenson Button,” he said.
“We have quite a lot of confidence in where we will be at the beginning of next season. It is most definitely going in the right direction.
“We are going up a painful curve, but up it we will go and we will get there.”