Latest news from Spain says that Alonso is going to....

McLaren!! Yes, it appears that McLaren have offered Alonso a 1 year deal due to heavy pressure from two of their main sponsors, Mutua Madrileña and Banco Santander. Unofficial, but that is what a couple of important and credible newspapers are saying...

Unbelievable

 

Wow......what not a suprise. He has no home and no drive yet. Also could this imply how badly the situation for Renault might go in its own spy scandal. He had no options. To win one needs to drive Mclaren or Ferrari as they are the only 2 teams that have the pace to win until other teams develop further.
Its that simple and we all know that of course

 

I'll wait till the fat lady......... 's He was at Honda the other day for a seat fitting..

 

Link ?

 

so far i'm only seeing it on PlanetF1....
http://www.planetf1.com/story/0,18954,3213_2946807,00.html

 

... to this point, I´ll take whatever news on Alonso transfer I can get...even made up

 

That's the source: AS is the second largest sports newspaper in Spain, behind MARCA, and one of the most widely read publications in Spain.
Personally, I find it hard to believe, because McLaren could always use Pedro de la Rosa to keep the sponsors happy. Although that might not be a decision Dennis would like (he probably thinks Pedro is a good test driver, but "over the hill" as a race driver), he would in all likelyhood prefer it to bringing back Alonso to the team.

 

Nonsense, IMO. he should go to Toyota at least, and show what he's capable of.

 

This makes no sense whatsoever.

Did Alonso not sign a 2-year contract with McLaren? All of the talk of him possibly switching teams was because McLaren was willing to release him from his contract. If they wanted him for the second year, they would simply not release him from his obligation - why would there be a need to "offer him a 1-year deal"???????

 

Silly as it sounds I can see the logic in this:

1) The argument for Alonso to sign with McLaren is, that despite Lewis being there, it is the only seat that gives him a chance at the title. Ferrari has no seat in 08 and no other team can pull a fast car out of the hat to give him the title. If he went to Renault, Honda, BMW etc. it would keep his skills sharp, but it would only be worse for his 08 title chances.

2) Alonso lost a lot of ground to Lewis and the title in the beginning of the season until he got used to the Bridgestones. He won't have that problem anymore and might actually have more of an entire season like the 2nd half of this year, meaning he might be able to control Lewis.

 

This maybe the case thus I take it your assuming FA then goes to Ferrari 09 ..

Only there is some doubt in my mind because of this seemingly well connected post:

 

1) Why would you think that? Alonso won the title with Renault two out of the last three years...2007 was just a bad year for Renault, they will be back in full force in 2008; 2) I agree 100%.

 

Yes

Yellowbird has great connections regarding photos. A contract in F1 is just a piece of paper.

 

Just look at how far off the sharp end the team has fallen this season: They were struggling to make it into Q2. Fisichella is useless and Kovalainen unexperienced.

Renault is a great team and Alonso could bring them back, but I don't think there is enough time left before the season starts to do that. If Alonso would go there, I think he wouldn't be challenging for the title before 09.

 

Fair enough Contracts are made to broken anyway, I have no problem with him at Ferrari if he adopts Kimi's line of chat

 

Interesting. Would RD let FA out of his contract, just to get him back on the cheap when FA realizes he has no better options??? Time will tell...

 

+1

Just ask Jensen Button

 

Yes...but to swap that piece of paper to other teams takes millions of other little pieces of paper.

 

After the way Fred was reportedly bashing McLaren after he was released from his contract, I am surprised they could work anything out. This could work in Ferrari's favor if Fred And Lewis have their problems again.

Formula 1 makes strange bedfelloews IMVHO.

Forza Ferrari!

 

AFAIK there was no bashing as this was part of the deal between the two parties: We'll let you go, but you can't open your mouth.

 

Don't know if he's going to be happy as #2 to Lewis.
If I were Lewis I'd want that spelled out in my contract before this new-hire signs on.

 

Ron also needs to ensure there is a "Rat-on-your-buddy" penalty clause.
$100 Million seems a nice round number.

 

Like it or not McLaren don't have a #1 or #2 in their team.

Anyway this makes perfect sense to me. McLaren need a good driver, there is one available. Alonso needs a good car and there is one available.

What happened in the past does not matter ... winning is the motivator in motorsport . I think I said Alonso would stay with McLaren ... ages ago ...
Pete

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173382&page=7

Only two of you thought Fred would go back to McLaren. I wonder if Ron Dennis and Fred are secrectly Fchatters who voted under under assumed names!

 

McLaren don't need a good driver, they already have one. Alonso does need a good drive and he's having trouble finding one so he's the one with the problem, not RD and McLaren. I don't think there's any way they'll take him back.