McLaren’s relationship with Fernando Alonso “has never been st🌳ronger” despite the team’s failure to qualify for this year’s Indianapolis 500, according to CEO Zak Brown.

Two-time Formula 1 world champion Alonso ༺is aiming to become only the second driver in history to complete the ‘triple crown of motorsport’ by winning the Indy 500, and entered the race for a second time this year with McLaren.

However, a number of operationa🐲l issues led to Alonso missing out on a place in the 33-carꦅ field, qualifying 34th last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedw🦂a🎐y.

Despite this setback, McLaren Racing CEO Brown stressed it had not changed the team’s relationship with Alonso when asked by mahbx.com ꦐabout any potential impact in Monaco on Thursday.

“Our relationship with Fernando has never b🃏een stronger,” Brown said.

“He was obviously very disappointed. We let him down. He deserved to be in the ra▨ce, he was an absolute star as he always has been when he’s raced with us.”

Alonso only has one more confirmed race o✤uting at present – the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, after which he will leave the FIA World Endurance Championship – but Brown said he is not di🐭rectly involved in the Spaniard’s future plans.

“What he does post-Le Mans is up🌺 to Fernando. We have a contract with him for some McLaren activities,” Brown said.

“I think when you come off an emotional weekend like thatꦇ you want🍨 to take some time to reflect and see what he wants to do in the future.

“If that aligns with some of McLaren’s activities, ⛄then that would be great, but just like he’s been driving with Toyot✨a, I think he’s a bit undecided on what he wants to do yet.

“So we will pick up those ꦏconversations when I see him in Le🌸 Mans.”