Alonso questions 2016 prospects

Former world champion Fernando Alonso is not entirely certain on McLaren-Honda's prospects ahead of the 2016 Formula One season.

McLaren's 2015 campaign was littered with retirements, no-point finishes and even a failure to start a race on one occasion.

Reliability is not a word that was bandied about too often, if at all and there are hopes that there will be a reversal of fortunes when drivers return next year.

"At the moment there's a question mark, I guess, where McLaren-Honda can be next year," Alonso told ESPN.

"There are a lot of expectations in the team. I think we worked really all season, being united in some difficult moments and always moving forward, so I think for 2016 the main goal for the team is to come back to where we belong, we think, and being competitive, fighting for the top positions," added Alonso.

It is not so much the prospect of failure that concerns Alonso but rather it is the considerable uncertainty which exists, ahead of the 2016 season. There are simply too many questions that still need to be answered.

"I don't know if that means fighting for the championship, I don't know if that means fighting for victories of just being on the podium sometimes, that's always difficult to know in a very complex sport like Formula One," he said.

Naturally there has been tremendous speculation about Alonso's future at the team, fuelled by comments which implied he might take a sabbatical. The one thing Alonso does appear to be certain about is that he wants to be a part of the new chapter being written at McLaren next season, and that he believes in the work that is being done.

"There are definitely some big challenges ahead in this winter and I see all the things that the team has done in the last couple of months and these seem very logical, very positive and I'm confident that it's going to be a completely different season next year and I'm happy with the progress."

Rosberg beats Hamilton in season-finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Paul Hembery, Pirelli motorsport director said, "As usual, Abu Dhabi delivered another very tactical race, during which Mercedes and Nico Rosberg in particular controlled the strategy perfectly".

Leading in the U.S. GP, it was his mistake which allowed Hamilton to wrap up his second straight title and he has been determined to make amends.

Pirelli had predicted that the most likely fastest strategy for the 55 laps of Abu Dhabi was a two-stopper, starting on the supersoft and then changing to the soft on laps 10 and 31.

"I'm feeling very happy", beamed Rosberg, whose recent performances have belied those he gave earlier in the season, suddenly giving voice to the suggestion that he may provide a much sterner challenge in 2016.

"I'm really excited about how the season went", Rosberg, who started from the pole, said. "I don't need any holidays". This team has done a remarkable job, so a big thank you to everyone back at the factories. It's great to end the season like this.

"Let's leave that", he said.

This announcement clarified the issues and closed a possible loophole, leaving the paddock to focus on the final contest in ideal sunset conditions with a track temperature of 29 degrees Celsius and the two Mercedes together again on the front row.

"Firstly, it has been an awesome year". We could have been closer but I think we have a reasonably good speed and at certain points, we have been catching our competitors. In hindsight, once Nico had pitted today I probably would have backed off a bit and gone a bit longer. "As that didn't work out, going long probably wasn't the best thing to do".

Kimi Raikkonen took to the final step of the podium for Ferrari, while Raikkonen's team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who started the race from 14th after a tactical gaffe in qualifying, finished fourth. At least it looks like we will have a good fight within the pacesetting team.

"But it's not been an ideal year".

"This is the flawless ending to the season for me - something I hoped for so much after a tough year", Rosberg said.

Hamilton finished on 381 points, with Rosberg on 322.

"(It's) too late for the championship of course, but so great now to have it (the win) and that's it. I can't tell you about next year unfortunately, but I'll give it everything". I'll try and keep the current form going next year.

Behind the Ferraris it was Sergio Perez in fifth pace for Force India followed by Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull, Nico Hulkenberg in the Force India, Felipe Massa in the Williams, Romain Grosjean in the Lotus and Daniil Kvyat rounding out the top ten in the second Red Bull.

Hamilton's former team-mate Fernando Alonso has been forced to fend off suggestions from his McLaren boss Ron Dennis that he will take a sabbatical next year.