Thursday 3 August 2017 20:56, UK
Fernando Alonso set F1's driver market rumour mill whirling again after qualifying at the Azerbaijan GP last Saturday when he said the weekend had been "positive" for him up until that point - despite McLaren racking up a huge number of grid penalties.
Speaking the evening before he scored the team's first points of 2017, and just hours after dropping out in Q1 for the first time this year, Alonso said Baku "has been very positive for me".
Alonso's 'positive' Azerbaijan weekend
By contrast, and in the same press conference, McLaren racing director Eric Boullier described the weekend until then as the "most painful I have ever had".
Alonso's comments came after his management team had been pictured in discussions with the hierarchy of both Mercedes and Renault, and also amid growing expectations that McLaren are finalising an end-of-season split from Honda.
So, with his 2018 F1 plans still not resolved, did the Spaniard's positivity have something to do with his future?
Rachel Brookes put that very question to the Spaniard at the end of his Sky F1 interview after Sunday's race. Hit play on the video above to see Fernando's giveaway response...
Don't miss the F1 Report: Azerbaijan GP Review on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday for the final word on the weekend's action.
