Fernando Alonso says he will definitely race for McLaren for the next two seasons despite his recent frustrations.
During the Japanese Grand Prix, Alonso took to team radio to vent his frustration at being overtaken so easily in the race, describing the Honda power unit as a "GP2 engine". Following the race, some of Alonso's answers to questions about his future were taken as potential hints he may opt to leave McLaren, but he soon took to Twitter to insist he will stay.
On Thursday, asked if he will be racing for McLaren next season, Alonso replied: "Yes. Of course. And ’17."
And Alonso says the radio messages should have been kept private as they were outbursts in the heat of the moment.
"Obviously we have been all season very positive, about the team and about the car, we faced some difficult times, some tough times, all the team and what you talk on the radio should remain private because you are talking with your team not publically. I think publically, as I said, we have been very, very positive all the time.
"You know sometimes it’s normal and understandable, talking to the team, you know the level of frustration and the level of commitment that I have for racing and Jenson has for racing as well, when you are battling and you cannot hold anyone behind and you are losing positions is normal.
"But as I said, this is a very unique sport, that we have a microphone in our helmet and it goes live on television. Imagine in NBA or football players or something like that what we can find. This is normal and it’s just talking to the team, it’s understandable the frustration with the car."
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