ALONSO Decision Not Until End Of Year

"This question, though, overlooks the determination of Spanish bank Santander to simultaneously snare Alonso and Ferrari. The company came into F1 last year, joining McLaren in order to be linked with the driver, but, as is public knowledge, it was a match made in hell for Alonso, who moved back to the French-owned squad.

Santander, though, was unable to move in unison due to Renault's title partnership with ING, so endured another year at McLaren while expanding its F1 properties, culminating in the trophy awarded to Monza victor Sebastian Vettel being what must be the most hideous ever awarded in F1.

Thus the cash-rich bank (a total anomaly in these times), whose corporate colours neatly match Ferrari's classic livery, has long been said to have inked a deal with the Italian team to replace the tobacco company, which aggressively flew in the face of convention (and, arguably, certain laws), but has at last recognised the words writ large on the wall.

But would Santander be satisfied with the patently underperforming Kimi when it really craves Fernando as logo bearer? If rumours doing the rounds after Alonso's sensational win in Singapore have any legs, Santander could see its wishes fulfilled sooner rather than later.

Allegedly the bank has offered to buy out the full balance of Raikkonen's contract (two years at an estimated $50m per annum) and fund Alonso's similar demands for the same period - in addition to its title sponsorship of the Italian team, and at least two race sponsorships.

According to the source the deal has already been done, and could be announced within weeks..."


(Extract from autosport.com earlier this week)

This is the reason why Alonso is waiting until after the season to tell the whole world what team he will drive for next season.

Best regards
/Per

 

It's not like there is a lot of choices left, red-bull, ferrari and bmw are just full
He has nowhere to go but renault...and i doubt he's seriously considering honda.

 

Just the type of guy everyone wants on their team. The type that waits and procratinates what to do untill the last possible second and then leaving his team out to dry in January. What a joke.

 

He is staying at Renault, don't you think Ron? If and when he goes to Ferrari it will be at 2010 at the earliest.

 

Given the current financial situation, does Santander have this much money to p$ss away at F1 - ~$150MM+??

 

His only other option is Honda. I think we'll see him in a Renault next year.

 

Ron, try Metaxa next time

 

or switch to Arak, less of a hangover.

 

If things keep going the way they are in the finacial world, we will see many of these sponsors leave. If it gets really bad more than a couple of teams may fold.

 

This is hilarious, Ferrari extends Raikkonen's contract, Massa's driving skills have doubled and yet the Alonso to Ferrari rumours persist.

 

ha..he's staying at Renault, thats for sure.

 

Rubens Barrichello has admitted he might not secure a contract to remain in Formula One beyond this season.

The 36-year-old Brazilian, who is the most experienced Grand Prix driver of all time, has had a difficult year with Honda but insists he has never considered voluntarily retiring.

"I've made it clear that if someone offers me a good contract for the next three years, I'll sign it," he said ahead of his team's home race in Japan.

"I see my future in a F1 car, but if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world."

Barrichello admits he is not sure what Honda's plans are for 2009, although he confirmed that talks seem to be taking place with his young countryman Bruno Senna.

"There is a lot of silence at Honda right now and I think this is tiresome," he said.
"I've never been in a situation like this, without a contract for next year this late in the season."

Barrichello advises Senna, the 24-year-old nephew of his idol and former mentor Ayrton Senna, not to come to Honda.

"Not because of my situation, but because I think that with his lack of experience, he may waste an opportunity," he said.

"You shouldn't enter F1 just because you want to and burn everything in a year knowing that you have the capacity to be world champion. It's a big mistake."



so, who thinks Fred is indeed heading to Honda?

 

I think Rubens deserves to stay, he's been out driving Button all this year. He's still hungry, appears to be even more so than old Jense.

 

maybe that is because he is the best driver in the world, only second to Hamilton.

 

He said in a Spanish paper that he has already decided, but that he won´t say anything till the end of the season.

He´s not going to Honda (maybe he´s idiot, but he´s not crazy), but if he was going to stay at Renault, why wouldn´t he just announce it now? Are Banco Santander´s pockets so deep?

 

agreed

 

IIRC, Santander was one of the few banks that didn't excessively speculate with questionable credits. Yesterday I read that they're looking for opportunities to buy banks that can be had for cheap now, so it looks as if they've got enough cash!