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Fernando Alonso’s hopes of moving from McLaren Mercedes to Ferrari look to have been dashed with the announcement by the Scuderia yesterday that they are to retain the services of Felipe Massa until the end of 2010.
Given that Ferrari have Kimi Raikkonen on their books until the end of 2009, the decision appears to make it impossible for Alonso to switch from McLaren to the Italian team, either this winter or in 12 months’ time.
There had been speculation that the unhappy Spanish double world champion could have taken Massa’s place to drive alongside Raikkonen in 2009 after spending a year in a third team, either Renault or Toyota. The rumour mill suggested Alonso was in talks with Luca di Montezemolo, the president of Ferrari, but Ferrari denied yesterday that those talks took place and the team have given their backing to Massa, whose manager is Nicholas Todt, the son of Jean, the team principal.
The decision leaves Alonso with only two realistic options: either to stay at McLaren for what he has termed “another beautiful battle” with Lewis Hamilton, his championship rival, or to make a long-term move this winter back to Renault. Most paddock observers regard relations between Alonso and Ron Dennis, the McLaren team principal, as being so bad that there is little chance of a postseason reconciliation, whether or not Alonso wins the World Championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday. Thus a move to Renault two years before his contract expires with the Woking-based team looks likely.
The best guess is that Alonso will do a swap with Heikki Kovalainen, the Finnish rookie who drives for Renault, who will drive alongside Hamilton at McLaren. The big danger for Alonso is that, having burnt his bridges at McLaren, he will find himself in a team at Renault who may still be off the pace of the Ferraris and the McLarens next season, heralding a potentially barren spell for the champion.
The endorsement of Massa by Ferrari, meanwhile, will give the Brazilian a boost as he seeks a second consecutive win at his home race on the Interlagos circuit in São Paulo this weekend. However, he may well have to play a supporting role to Raikkonen as the battle for the title unfolds.
Hamilton goes into the race as favourite with a four-point lead over Alonso, but Raikkonen, who is three points farther back, is not out of it.
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I think Alonso will be scrapping with the British race winner next year, both in cars with the same sort of straight line speed and acceleration.
Unfortunately for Alonso, his battle will be with Jenson Button.
For 11th.
Rick , Dubai, UAE
Alonso knowlingly used information from Ferrari to help set up the McLaren car, not because he is a great driver.
He didn't tell Dennis about this but decides to blackmail Dennis, who is an honourable character later. When he thought that by giving evidence against McLaren was going to further his chances of a ride with Ferrari.
Let's face it, Alonso has no scruples, has no ethics, has no character but was been a great driver. But he is not up to the level of Massa, Raikkonen or Hamilton at the moment and will do anything to try and get an edge.
Why would Ferrari swap their current two drivers who are both better than Alonso now and far better behaved and reliable?
Paul, Toronto, Canada
May i be allowed to say that i agree 100% with Charlie of London. Vitriol, gratuitous and possibly racist comments should not be the sort of thing to be discussed in this forum. This forum is about F1 racing. Which is a sport which we obviously all enjoy. And that enjoyment is derived from admiring the skills of people who have the talent and ability to drive extremely fast cars round a racetrack. Does the background of that particular person matter? English, Spanish, Alien? Irrelevant. Can they drive a car quickly? Will we enjoy watching them do it? If they can tick those boxes then it works for me! Looking forward to your posts, it's going to be a fun weekend! Graeme, Melbourne, Australia
Graeme, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Spanish Premonitions after Interlagos Race:
Hamilton: F1 World Champion 2007.
Alonso: Out of McClaren next year.
Ron Dennis: Initiating the adoption procedures for "Little Lew"
Eddie G.: Marketing Manager of McClaren-Mercedes with a good office, better loan and with river sights
Medina Cantalejo: invited by the spanish F-1 fans to Interlagos race.
Rafael Villanueva, Valencia, Spain
Having just been in Madrid i was staggered at the venom shown towards Lewis. Most of it was both gratuitous and racist. It seems a shame that banter between fans should become so ugly.
CHARLIE, LONDON, UK
Slow Renault?, even last year was "slow" McLaren...until Alonso came....his problem was that he did his job in benefit of the first driver of his team (and the preferred of some marshalls (eg Turkey)).
Let´s talk when neither Dennis nor british/FIA/F1 needs of a british champion are in the middle....
Marco Garcia, Gijon,
Spanish media has reported Alonso's meeting with Briatore. They think alike, so they could work together next season. Swapping places with Heiki would fit better to Alonso because the finn would give him more fight then Nelsinho Piquet who could be sent to McLaren in case of Heiki staying at Renault.
Jose Costa, Luanda, Angola
Where has been the "equal treatment" to Hamilton and Alonso along this championship?
What were the results of McLaren before the arrival of Fernando Alonso,even though they had a superb pilot as
Kimi Raikkonen?How many engines burnt and car-failures
last season?Did Fernando Alonso contribute to implement
the performance of the car as he previously did with Renault
the past two seasons?He is not only a good pilot but also a fantastic car-fitting man.I believe he deserved a better treatment,at least an equal treatment to the "Rookie",the
protegé of Ron Dennis since he was 10.
You,British Press have made a formidable job,first by listening the cries and tears of the Rookie and afterwards discrediting Alonso before British people.You often repeat "unhappy" and "bitter" when you refer to Alonso.He is happy when someone respects and treats him as a "normal person",
appreciating his skills,as Briatore.
Equal treatment at Interlagos!!!,though too late for Fernando Alonso,I fear.
RAFAEL, Oviedo, Spain
Alonsa to Renault and Button to Ron Dennis!!!
Marshall, Belfast, NI
What team in it's right mind would want the 'alleged' blackmailer Alonso?
Jo, queensland, Australia
Hard to believe that this was ever a possibility; if he cannot cope with equal treatment to a Rookie, how could he cope with Kimi as his equal at Ferrari?
Being number one in a slow Renault seems a bad move.
My guess is that he will bite the bullet and stay put. Pity he could not have been number one in a Prodrive-McLaren
GoodluckLewis, Saumur, France
looks like Renault to me though swapping places with Kovalainen looks rather unlikely to me given he's a rookie too and needs to do more to convince. I don't think Mclaren would want to have him at this point. Seems more like Fisi being shipped out though it would be interesting to see where to
i'm sure we'll find out pretty soon
Don, Manchester, UK
Fernando make Toyota a World Champion Team after win the 2007 World Cahmpionship
Rafael GarcÃa, Madrid, Spain
The renewal of Massa is not a surprise at all. Maybe the relationship between the Todt´s and the Massa´s is a little close, but Ferrari will not change its long term plan due to a pilot who is unhappy in a team.
Marc, Madrid, Spain
perfect!! not ferrari for alonso. very very very good
toyota o renault, in this order. better toyota, with his friend Jarno.
in any case, out of McLaren.
AM, salou, spain