http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/formulaone/39851/ I don't know if it's true or not but it's out there. Brings to mind what MS did when he went to Ferrari in 96. It's probably the best investment Toyota F1 will ever make. "Germany’s ever-creative Bild tabloid revealed this week that the Cologne-based Toyota team, still winless in five and a half seasons as Formula 1’s biggest budget, is willing to fork out $40 million to have Fernando Alonso as its No.1 driver for 2008. While the concept may sound absurd at first, Toyota team president John Howett did admit to Switzerland’s Motorsport Aktuell that he would “surely” like to have the Spaniard’s services next year. “So would half the world,” he added. What Howett said in a less humorous manner was that indeed Toyota has yet to pick up its option on Ralf Schumacher’s services for ’08. Couple that with Alonso’s recent vague remarks regarding his future and the Cologne path may make sense for the Spaniard, who would be partnered at Toyota with the same Jarno Trulli he handily outpaced at Renault back in 2003. For a driver who clearly demands No.1 status, it could be an ideal scenario…"
I'll bet it's already a done deal. Sounds like a good fit to me. Let's see if the kid can turn that huge ship around and has what it takes to do so.
I really can't see this happening! Alonso would be even more un-happy at Toyota racing in the mid-pack, then at Mclaren racing a possible champ winning car for the next few years, even if it did mean he had to fight every race with his team-mate ! If he goes anywhere, it will be back to Renault .....
With all the money they're throwing at it it has to click some time. Besides, they're the top of the heap in the automotive world so it's not like they can't get anything right. Maybe Bernie's making them pay their dues
Alonso would be a fool to move to Toyota. A true champion wants the best car to take him onto his next championship. Money helps, but he is being paid around $20 million at McLaren. Move to Toyota = no forseeable wins, let alone championships.
Highly unlikely. Surely FA watched JV's career path when he did something similar. Unless FA wants to be in NASCAR in 2011, he'd be best served by sucking it up at McL
Yet Schumacher left Renault to move to Ferrari in 1996? No one would argue that the Ferrari back then was the best car.
Schumacher never raced for Renault, although he did race and win two WDC with Benetton that used a Renault engine.
Looks like the Renault option is not a viable one for Alonso . Mr Ghosn isn't willing to pay extra for Alonso's services. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/61920 "Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn has said his Formula One team's chances of returning to the top next season are not dependent on them capturing Fernando Alonso. The French car manufacturer has become linked with a deal with Alonso following the Spaniard's recent troubles with McLaren. And although Renault boss Flavio Briatore said earlier this week that he would be interested in signing Alonso, Ghosn insists that the team's future is not just dependent on one man. His comments would appear to pour cold water on rumours that Renault are ready to pay whatever it takes to re-sign Alonso after the Spanaird helped them to back-to-back world championships in 2005 and 2006. "Success in F1 is always the product of team work," he said when asked about Renault's chances of re-signing Alonso during the launch of the new Renault Laguna in Salzburg. "It needs a perfect car, chassis, engine, tyres, team effort, and driver of course. The best driver cannot succeed without a perfect team and vice versa. "I demand from the team to compete at the highest level. If we cannot come first we have to be at least runner-up. But I do not interfere with the daily operations, for this we have Flavio (Briatore) and Alain (Dassas). "The team know what it takes to win. This year, we started late because the title fight of 2006 took our full efforts until the very last race. The final laps. "We had to pay for this and we had to get used to new tyres, a new driver. But I am absolutely confident we will be successful in 2008. But this is not depending on one person."
I didn't find it on Bild online and wouldn't have given it much credibility because of that source anyway. However it is interesting, that they mention the interview in "motorsport aktuell", which is one of the best F1 magazines in the world. If they print it, then that interview really happened. Obviously Toyota has the $$$ to pay for Alonso and they are desperate for results. Sounds like a match made in heaven. When Alonso signed with the hopeless McLaren team (at the time), I thought he shot himself in the foot, but look where he is now in the championship. He has the potential to even turn Toyota around. Would be fun to see him there.
Yes, but Ferrari were quite better then than Toyota is now. Anyway, they have the resources and they were in often in the podium a few years ago so if they finally get all the parts together they could be winning something in 2 or 3 years, I think it wouldn´t be a suicide for Alonso, although it´s not going to be easy.
The thing about Michael's move to Ferrari is not just that he was an incredible driver (and I do admit that FA is one of the top 3 drivers today), but the people he brought with him. FA doesn't have a Ross Brawn and the rest of the group to bring with to a new team unless there's something I don't know about.
It'd be one hell of a publicity stunt for Toyota. Maybe a way for top management in the team to keep their job? Say to the Board "look, we're trying, just give us a little more time" as they pray in secret something will happen.
If Alonso thinks he is moving to Toyota for a larger paycheck, he is seriously mistaken unless Toyota starts winning races. Alonso would make far more in endorsements etc he would obtain while winning races with Mclaren. It's the fastest who gets paid, and it's the fastest who get la$d
good luck alonso if u go to toyota...i think he will have a better chance to score points consistently with williams then scion...i mean toyota ROTFLMAO
I haven't thought about that one but I have a feeling you might be right. Toyota hired Frank Dernie (from Williams) this week. With Toyota spending all that cash and nothing to show for it they need some new blood to bring the team to winning form.
that's the answer: Alonso can move along for more money and final say to a team willing to give up such as well as make it his own team [just think Shumi to Ferrari]. All Alonso has to say if failure hangs, is: " gee....you have two of the drivers from a winning team here...it must be you, Toyota...duh" Image Unavailable, Please Login
