Carlos Sainz is to replace Fernando Alonso at the
McLaren Formula One team from next season, a report by ESPN
television said Wednesday.
Sainz, 23, will move from Renault to join McLaren on a two-year
contract, with the announcement to be made on Thursday, ESPN reported
citing unnamed sources.
Alonso, 37, had announced Tuesday he would not be racing in Formula
One following the current season.
Alonso's future is unclear but the two-time F1 world champion from
Spain said he had "some bigger challenges than those you can offer
me."
In a statement on the McLaren website, he said: "Let's see what the
future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner.
"I'm having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to
go on exploring new adventures."
Reports have linked Alonso with a move to IndyCar. He needs only Indy
500 success to complete motorsport's unofficial 'Triple Crown',
having won the Monaco Grand Prix twice and secured a maiden Le Mans
24 Hours victory in June.
Spaniard Sainz is the son of former double world rally champion
Carlos Sainz and made his F1 debut with Toro Rosso in 2015. He raced
for Renault in 2017 but began his first full season with the team
this year on loan from Red Bull, partnering the German Nico
Huelkenberg.
Australia's Daniel Ricciardo is leaving Red Bull to join Renault next
season. ESPN said Sainz was a candidate to succeed Ricciardo, but a
move to McLaren could now mean Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly taking the
Red Bull seat.