Bernie Ecclestone has advised Ferrari to sign-up Fernando Alonso should it have a vacancy to fill for 2018.

With each passing race, Alonso's prospects of remaining at McLarelen next season appear to fade, but reasonable opportunities for the Spaniard may prove few and far between.

Asked last weekend in Baku who Ferrari should sign if the team has a vacancy for 2018, former F1 supremo Ecclestone answered: "Alonso, of course.

"He is one of the best F1 drivers of all time," he told the Spanish newspaper ABC.

Flavio Briatore, who handles Alonso's affairs along with business manager Luis Garcia Abad, would not rule out a return of Alonso to the House of Maranello.

"He always got along with everyone and only had problems with Mattiacci," Briatore, referring to the now-departed former Ferrari boss, told Italian radio Rai.

"In this life you cannot exclude anything. Fernando is a bit like Senna, who had no problem with any team -- he only needs a car capable of winning."

"In Formula 1 there are only two teams racing to win -- Ferrari and Mercedes.

"McLaren can only be a top team if they change engines," he added.

"We'll see. Red Bull and Force India can have good races, as we saw in Baku."

GALLERY: F1 drivers' wives and girlfriends

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

LAST CHANCE to enter our ULTIMATE TRACKDAY competition! FREE ENTRY HERE!